The hottest Trends Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Luckin Out to Starbuck's Misfortune

Snaxshot • 519 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends
  1. Luckin Coffee is gaining an edge over Starbucks, showing how competition in the coffee market can change quickly.
  2. There’s a rising trend for health-focused drinks, like pre-biotic cocktails, which mix wellness with socializing.
  3. More quick-service restaurants are using GLP-1, a drug for weight loss, to attract customers seeking healthier options.

Sauce physics

Blackbird Spyplane • 959 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Trends
  1. Choosing the right fabric can really change how a piece of clothing feels and looks. It's important to think about material when picking out clothes.
  2. Teamwork is powerful, and sometimes big achievements come from people working together. Community connections can help create amazing things.
  3. There are unique, quality clothing pieces being made by independent designers, which can be really cool to discover and support. These designers often use sustainable materials and have interesting stories behind their creations.

The Return of the Weirdo

The Honest Broker • 31949 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Culture has grown bland and risk-averse, with design, fashion, and media favoring smooth sameness instead of boldness.
  2. Companies and algorithms push predictability because it’s profitable, so they keep recycling the past and often hide behind empty buzzwords like “diversity.”
  3. The sameness is temporary — weird, risk-taking people and movements tend to re-emerge and disrupt the monotony, bringing real change.

The anti-It Bag

Blackbird Spyplane • 1059 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Trends
  1. There's a new bag called the 'anti-It Bag' that is stylish and practical. It's made from leftover materials, easy to clean, and looks unique.
  2. Comfortable organic-cotton sweatpants made in the USA are highlighted as a great choice for relaxing. They come with warm knit accessories perfect for the colder months.
  3. Tips are shared on how to style your existing sweaters in fresh ways. There's also a cool wool snap cardigan mentioned as a great addition to your wardrobe.

Should you care about Dalvin Cook?

Stealing Signals • 259 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Trends
  1. Dalvin Cook's lack of playing time makes him a risky fantasy add, but the team's decision to activate him shows they are considering him more seriously now. It might be worth adding him to see if he can show some useful performance.
  2. While many people are skeptical about older running backs like Cook, he still has potential based on his past performance and the current state of the Cowboys' backfield. He could surprise and take on a larger role if he performs well.
  3. Overall, adding Dalvin Cook could be a good gamble this week, but keep in mind that it may not pay off. If he doesn't perform, cutting him from your team won't be a hard decision.
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Shirts lookin' INKY!

Blackbird Spyplane • 1019 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Trends
  1. James Coward has released an exclusive capsule collection that includes jackets and button-ups. The pieces are made with high-quality materials from a reputable mill.
  2. Canoe Club and Engineered Garments are launching their second collaboration featuring hooded jackets inspired by classic outdoor styles. These jackets are designed for comfort and practicality.
  3. A giveaway event is being held for four jackets from the Canoe Club x Engineered Garments collection. Interested participants can enter through a simple button click in the email.

FW26 Color Stats

Rough Diamonds • 15 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Trends
  1. Fall/Winter 2026 is dominated by dark, muted colors like black, jet black, charcoal, and burgundy.
  2. Compared with last year, whites, beiges and bright pastels fell back while many dark tones (oxblood, slate blue, burnt orange, sage) rose into the top ranks.
  3. This appears to be a stylistic shift toward edgier, vampy looks rather than just economic caution, and it’s the biggest color change observed in these trend tracks.

Guest post: Met Gala on Black Style: Superfine or Superflop?

The Sociology of Business • 378 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Trends
  1. Brand affinity helps create good feelings about a brand, but it’s important to also think about a brand's context in the world.
  2. Positionality means understanding how a brand is viewed based on its place in society and culture.
  3. For brands, the Met Gala can be a chance to blend excitement with deeper meaning by recognizing both connections and the bigger picture.

How Fireship became YouTube's favorite programmer

engineercodex • 635 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Trends
  1. Fireship's videos are short and fast-paced. This keeps viewers engaged and encourages them to watch more.
  2. He uses humor to make learning fun. His jokes and memes help explain complex topics in a way that's easy to understand.
  3. Fireship combines trending topics with timeless content. This strategy helps him attract a lot of views both right away and over time.

The Monday Media Diet with Anu Lingala

Why is this interesting? • 3680 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. A trend strategist converts cultural signals into practical plans for product, marketing, and company strategy. They build workflows that track trends and translate them for different teams and timelines.
  2. An intentional, categorized media diet prevents overload and improves signal capture by grouping core, fashion, macro, and category sources, auto-labeling newsletters, and saving deep reads for focused time. Specific trend items are logged into a single database for later synthesis.
  3. Deep, creative research practices fuel original thinking: long rabbit holes into history and culture, focused reading, moodboarding from magazines, and visiting immersive art generate the insights that become essays, briefs, and product ideas. Personal curation and rituals turn scattered inputs into distinctive narratives.

The Martini is Dead, Long Live the Martini

Residual Thoughts • 138 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends
  1. Ordering complex cocktails like mezcal negronis in casual places might seem out of place, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying what you love.
  2. Martinis are making a comeback after a dip in popularity, highlighting a shift in drinking trends among people.
  3. Non-alcoholic drinks and lower-alcohol options are becoming more popular, as many look for alternatives while still wanting to enjoy social settings.

180,000 People Made Me Bearish On "Better For You" Sodas

Snaxshot • 539 implied HN points • 30 Sep 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends
  1. People are showing a strong interest in classic flavors, especially sodas that remind them of their childhood. Brands that focus on nostalgia are getting a lot of attention.
  2. New drinks like AG1 are trying to reach mainstream audiences by teaming up with popular spots like Starbucks. This helps them gain visibility without the high price tags.
  3. Condiments and butter are seeing fresh ideas, with new flavors becoming popular. It's exciting to see how brands are innovating everyday products to attract younger buyers.

The Children Are Our Future and They Want to Be Chinese

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 231 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Chinamaxxing is a TikTok trend where mostly young Americans copy everyday Chinese habits like squatting, drinking hot water, and wearing slippers at home.
  2. The trend blends meme humor with genuine admiration and promotes simple, cozy practices as an easy alternative to elaborate, consumer-driven self-care routines.
  3. It shows a Gen Z fascination with adopting cultural habits as a form of identity play and low-effort self-improvement, sometimes ironic and sometimes sincere.

There Are No Satantic Elites and the Scramble to Redefine "Woke"

Default Wisdom • 403 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Calling elites "Satanic" is a mistake — their ties to things like Kabbalah or Freemasonry aren’t the same as modern Satanism, and the more dangerous Satanic-adjacent networks today are lower-profile online groups, not secret elite cabals.
  2. The rush to rename or declare a new phase of "woke" is mostly a branding contest driven by incentives to be first, and fast, screen-based reporting often produces shaky theories rather than clear evidence of a coherent new movement.
  3. Looksmaxxing grew out of gay culture’s individualized sexual market and now spreads widely, encouraging endless self-optimization, risky DIY cosmetic procedures, and racialized pressures that can cause real harm to people who can’t access professional care.

What Is Happening to Music Criticism?

The Honest Broker • 9840 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🎶 Music Trends
  1. Music criticism is declining, with fewer full-time writers left at newspapers. This has made it hard for local music stories and events to get coverage.
  2. In some big cities, there is only one full-time arts critic left, and they might not last long. This could leave communities without anyone to write about their local arts and culture.
  3. Many places no longer have any paid journalists covering music or culture at all. This lack of coverage can create a 'media black hole' where important stories don't get told.

Trends I'm Definitely Not Buying...Until I Do

Total Rec • 5591 implied HN points • 13 Apr 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Trends
  1. Trends can be fun to follow but don't feel pressured to blindly conform. Choose what you like and what aligns with your personal style.
  2. Engaging with trends involves exploring your own associations and emotions, leading to unique fashion decisions that reflect your individuality.
  3. Fashion trends can be amusing and frivolous, so embrace them with a light-hearted attitude and remember that clothing holds meaning based on personal interpretation.

Desire Digest 001

Many Such Cases • 1698 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. The term 'hawk tuah' became popular online from a viral clip where a woman casually talks about her sexual desires. It shows a fun, carefree attitude towards sexuality, even if it gets commercialized later.
  2. Beauty products are increasingly marketed to signal desire rather than encourage real experiences of intimacy. For example, lip colors are now designed to evoke a feeling of sexiness but might not reflect actual sexual interactions.
  3. Feeld's new feature lets users connect with multiple partners, which aims to embrace non-traditional relationships. However, it raises questions about whether we need more labels when exploring unconventional dynamics.

In 2025, Your Boss Will Launch a Podcast

The Honest Broker • 21776 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. In 2025, many companies will start their own podcasts, using them to promote themselves like infomercials. So get ready for your boss to ask you to help with that.
  2. The way businesses connect with clients is changing; some are now using podcasts as a sneaky way to hold meetings. It seems to work because people are curious when asked to join a podcast.
  3. Media companies that once tried to compete with independent platforms like Substack are now copying their model. This shows a huge shift in how content is being delivered and consumed.

What Bama Rush Means in 2025

Culture Study • 6091 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Bama Rush is still a popular and interesting topic, attracting many viewers and discussions online. It's hard to stop looking into the drama and trends surrounding it.
  2. The Bama Rush phenomenon reflects deeper ideals about American femininity, showing how new students both challenge and support existing norms.
  3. Understanding Bama Rush helps make sense of the changing political landscape among Gen-Z in the U.S., making it a vital subject for those interested in current cultural dynamics.

The British Baby Bust

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 672 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Many women in the UK are increasingly choosing to remain childfree, and births may fall below deaths this year.
  2. Women like Mara — educated, professionally successful, and in stable relationships — often decide against motherhood after careful, deliberate thought rather than confusion.
  3. Their choices come from many overlapping reasons that would threaten what they value in life, so simple one-word explanations don’t capture the decision.

How Sydney Sweeney Lost The Culture War

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2239 implied HN points • 12 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Sydney Sweeney's latest movie flopped badly, making only over $1 million, which is really disappointing for any film.
  2. She has been involved in cultural controversies, notably after a GQ interview, and is now reportedly feuding with her co-star Zendaya from Euphoria.
  3. There's a big question about whether leaning into culture war politics will hurt her career in the long run.

Is Spotify Streaming Unauthorized AI Knockoffs of Dead Musicians?

The Honest Broker • 6050 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
🎶 Music Trends
  1. Spotify has been accused of streaming fake songs made by AI that are labeled as creations of deceased musicians without permission from their estates.
  2. There are strange occurrences at Spotify, like the CEO taking another job with an AI military startup and claims of drug sales happening through Spotify podcasts.
  3. Recently, Spotify took action against a specific case of AI-generated songs, which shows they might be starting to address their problems with misleading content.

Do Founders Ever Take a Vacation?🌴,AI and Longevity🤖, Venture Trends Q2 2024📊

The VC Corner • 579 implied HN points • 04 Aug 24
💼 Business Trends
  1. Many founders struggle to take vacations due to their busy schedules. Taking time off is often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity.
  2. Artificial Intelligence is playing a big role in improving health and longevity. People are excited about how AI can help us live longer and healthier lives.
  3. Venture capital trends are shifting, and investors are looking for new opportunities. It's important for startups to stay aware of these changes to attract funding.

Groupthink & Tech Journalism

The Lunduke Journal of Technology • 5170 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Trends
  1. The '10th Man Rule' suggests that when a group has a strong consensus, the '10th man' should challenge that view. This helps prevent groupthink and encourages diverse opinions.
  2. The Lunduke Journal focuses on sharing truths about the tech industry, even if it annoys some people. It aims to explore stories that other journalists might avoid due to fear of backlash.
  3. By rejecting corporate sponsorship, the Lunduke Journal maintains independence. This allows for honest reporting without worrying about pleasing big companies or public opinion.

Après Sport

Snaxshot • 679 implied HN points • 18 Aug 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends
  1. Après sport drinks are a trendy new category that focuses on hydration without the heavy functionality of traditional sports drinks. They are designed to be enjoyed socially after light sports like pickleball or tennis.
  2. Millennials are reviving and upgrading leisure sports and related drinks, moving away from sugary beverages towards healthier options like sparkling waters. This reflects a broader shift in lifestyle and drinking habits.
  3. Market trends show a growing demand for low-calorie and functional drinks, with the sports drink sector expected to see significant growth. People are starting to prefer lighter, refreshing choices after sports activities.

"Like Trader Joe's on Ayahuasca"

Snaxshot • 739 implied HN points • 12 Aug 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends
  1. Gen Z is moving away from traditional recipes and ingredients. They like to remix old favorites with new, exciting flavors and trends.
  2. There's a rising trend of niche and locally sourced water brands. Many consumers are now interested in hyper-local options rather than exotic imported waters.
  3. Food brands are finding success by unbundling popular classics. This gives consumers new and fun ways to enjoy familiar products.

The Culture Scene Is Total Madness

The Honest Broker • 13298 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. The culture scene is changing in odd ways, like Madonna trying stand-up comedy and a Van Gogh being sold for just $50 at a garage sale. It's making people question what is really important in art and entertainment.
  2. Vinyl record sales are confusing right now. Different reports say sales are either dropping significantly or growing, leaving many unsure about the future of the music industry.
  3. Some writers on Substack are starting to sell ads, which is surprising. This could change how independent authors make money and could lead to more big brands wanting to advertise in newsletters.

Writing Today: The Essay, 2010s v 2020

Freddie deBoer • 6064 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
📚 Literature Trends
  1. The style of writing essays has shifted from being very personal and confessional in the 2010s to more detached and ironic in the 2020s. Writers now tend to observe rather than engage deeply with their own experiences.
  2. There is a noticeable change in subject matter, with 2010s essays focusing heavily on identity and personal trauma, while 2020s essays are leaning towards broader themes of crisis and societal issues, often presenting them in a more abstract way.
  3. The structure of essays is evolving too. Today, essays are often more fragmented and modular, reflecting a sense of uncertainty, as writers explore ideas without the need for traditional narratives or conclusions.

“Fire moves away”

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 570 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🎶 Music Trends
  1. A personal roundup of music from 2025 that shares highlights and reflections on the year’s sounds.
  2. The publisher is moving new pieces behind a paywall starting January 2, and a large discount offer expires on January 1.
  3. This post is available free for now as a courtesy, but future content will generally require a paid subscription.

The 30 Most Intriguing Musicians of 2025

The Honest Broker • 5385 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🎶 Music Trends
  1. Rumer has a calming voice and makes pop music that's both familiar and innovative. She's blending classic sounds with a fresh vibe in her new album.
  2. Hagneya creates music that feels natural and soothing. Her songs connect listeners to nature, making you feel relaxed and at ease.
  3. Cristóbal Tapia de Veer is known for his unique soundtracks, like the one for 'The White Lotus.' Despite his success, he's stepping away for more creative freedom, which could open new opportunities for him.

Writing Today: As Gawker to the 2010s, so The Ringer to the 2020s

Freddie deBoer • 4362 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Gawker was all about being mean and stylish, which made it popular in the 2010s. It had a vibe of being cool yet cruel, reflecting a certain snarky attitude in media.
  2. The Ringer is a friendly and approachable media brand today, focusing on pop culture and sports. It aims to make everyone feel included, which is different from the harshness of Gawker.
  3. Both Gawker and The Ringer represent their respective eras in media, but they show how the tone and purpose of media have shifted from making bold statements to being more about companionship and fun.

Rodri Vs. Pep Guardiola: Who Ya' Got?

No Grass in the Clouds • 99 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Trends
  1. Rodri is a key player for Manchester City, showing impressive skills in tackles, passes, and goals. He's unique in the modern game.
  2. There are rankings for the best American and Premier League soccer players, showcasing talent from different leagues.
  3. There's buzz around players like Erling Haaland potentially reaching high goal tallies in a season, while other players are gaining attention for their performances.

De-Influencing De-Influencing

The Unpublishable • 8471 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Trends
  1. The beauty industry often thrives on flawed products to drive innovation and optimization.
  2. De-influencing trend may not substantially change consumer behavior in the beauty industry.
  3. De-influencing is essentially influencing in a different guise, showcasing the blurred line between consumers, influencers, and corporations.

An Algorithm-Free Feed for $1,999/month

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1134 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. People are tired of social media algorithms affecting their content. They want a more authentic experience.
  2. Adam Ayers and his wife created a new platform focusing on an algorithm-free feed.
  3. This new service is offered at a high subscription price, targeting users who value simplicity and less noise online.

Q&A (July 2024 pt. 2)

DeFi Education • 459 implied HN points • 27 Jul 24
🔮 Crypto Trends
  1. July 2024 has been a very volatile month for cryptocurrencies. Many people are looking for detailed updates on the market and different sectors.
  2. The Q&A sessions are designed to help subscribers understand the current trends and insights in the crypto market.
  3. This particular post is meant for paid subscribers who want in-depth analysis and exclusive content.

The Platform Where Thousands of College Kids Can Livestream Their Dates

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1015 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Trends
  1. Twitter's new feature shows where accounts are from, revealing some right-wing accounts are actually not American. This raises questions about authenticity online.
  2. The feature has been seen as damaging to the right-wing online community, exposing fake accounts trying to gain attention and revenue.
  3. Influencers and tech writers are discussing how this change could impact social media and the understanding of what is real versus fake online.

Things are changing round here 🚀

Boiling The Ocean • 19 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Trends
  1. BTO is getting a fresh start with a new look and content focus. This is exciting because it means there will be better and more relevant information.
  2. They are launching a new platform called Cheddar, which makes applying for consulting jobs much easier. It's like having all job listings in one place.
  3. The relaunch will focus on key topics like industry news, AI tools, and job opportunities, and will be sent out every month. This change aims to keep everyone updated and informed.

Doing This Again Makes Me Hate Myself and Hate You, But Yes, Something Happened to Liberalism in the 2010s, and Sometimes That Thing is Called "Woke"

Freddie deBoer • 8168 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Trends
  1. American liberalism changed a lot during the 2010s. People who consider themselves liberals in 2020 are not the same as those from 2010.
  2. Some people deny that these changes happened, which seems dishonest. It's clear that the ideas and focus of liberalism evolved, especially around issues like race and gender.
  3. Despite personal opinions on whether these changes were good or bad, it's strange to argue that liberalism has always been the same when the evidence of change is so obvious.