The recent episodes of the (proper) podcast with Jonathan Gluck, Carole Hooven, Henry Alford and Kelsey Osgood (among others) have been really exceptional. So glad to hear you have found a new home.
The audio essays you released about the LA Fires were so good!
I’ve also enjoyed the book excerpts, although being a monthly subscriber meant I could not participate in the bookclub.
Regarding the livestreams, there were some standout episodes (Thomas Beller comes immediately to mind), but they were the ones that were most closely reminiscent of the podcast and usually were with writers whose work you seemed to respect. The more rando podcaster/substacker types weren’t as interesting—mainly because you seemed to subdue your voice and defer to their supposedly more in-touch takes. (I also subscribed (paid) to your podcast with Sarah Haider and found myself rooting for you to push back more, but maybe it seemed that way because she is a verbal debater and you are a reflective essayist? I don’t know.)
That said, the content you are reserving for paid subscribers will have me continuing to support your work.
Thank you for the feedback. Substack has been strongly encouraging the livestreams, so there's been some fine-tuning and experimenting there. As for Sarah, when I pushed back, people got mad and when I didn't, people got mad! I really appreciate your support. 🧡
Sarah seems like a more black and white thinker (who doesn’t cede to the grey) whereas your work has always struck me as (at its best) a nuanced evocation and suggestion of the grey — not always either/or but both/and — or (when not at that level) just really well written.
(It’s the same reason Thomas Bellar is interesting — even when what he’s writing about is basketball.)
Well, that was part of why I tried to exercise restraint with Sarah. I didn't want to be the person endlessly saying "yeah, but . . . it's coooomplicated." Always loved talking with her, though.
Hi Meghan. I'm posting here because I'm not sure where to put this observation. You may be aware that Canadian subscribers are in a bit of a dilemma about either attending your events in the U.S. (such as the one in NYC that sounds great) or purchasing things from you because there is a strong reaction to Trump's tariff aggression and his comments on annexing Canada and making it a 51st state. It's not only offensive, it's having a destructive impact and many Canadians are boycotting travel to the U.S. and/or products. The alliance between like minded public intellectuals and their Canadian followers is caught in this dilemma. Essentially, purchases Canadians would have made under the Biden administration can't be made in good conscience even though they are the same goods or services. But it's far from settled in many minds including mine, so when you announce gatherings to meet our intellectual heroes I find that very appealing and worthy and want it to succeed. I'm sure it will without support from Canadians, and I'm sure some Canadians will go. But I for one done't feel I can invest in all the collateral of U.S. travel for my own gratification. This is independent of personal budget considerations, which is always a factor.
The recent episodes of the (proper) podcast with Jonathan Gluck, Carole Hooven, Henry Alford and Kelsey Osgood (among others) have been really exceptional. So glad to hear you have found a new home.
I bought my tickets this morning!
My subscriber’s 2 cents:
The audio essays you released about the LA Fires were so good!
I’ve also enjoyed the book excerpts, although being a monthly subscriber meant I could not participate in the bookclub.
Regarding the livestreams, there were some standout episodes (Thomas Beller comes immediately to mind), but they were the ones that were most closely reminiscent of the podcast and usually were with writers whose work you seemed to respect. The more rando podcaster/substacker types weren’t as interesting—mainly because you seemed to subdue your voice and defer to their supposedly more in-touch takes. (I also subscribed (paid) to your podcast with Sarah Haider and found myself rooting for you to push back more, but maybe it seemed that way because she is a verbal debater and you are a reflective essayist? I don’t know.)
That said, the content you are reserving for paid subscribers will have me continuing to support your work.
Thank you for the feedback. Substack has been strongly encouraging the livestreams, so there's been some fine-tuning and experimenting there. As for Sarah, when I pushed back, people got mad and when I didn't, people got mad! I really appreciate your support. 🧡
I hate to complicate things for you but I love the livestreams and that is why I subscribed.
Sarah seems like a more black and white thinker (who doesn’t cede to the grey) whereas your work has always struck me as (at its best) a nuanced evocation and suggestion of the grey — not always either/or but both/and — or (when not at that level) just really well written.
(It’s the same reason Thomas Bellar is interesting — even when what he’s writing about is basketball.)
Well, that was part of why I tried to exercise restraint with Sarah. I didn't want to be the person endlessly saying "yeah, but . . . it's coooomplicated." Always loved talking with her, though.
That approach seems to work quite well for your friend Jesse Signal. 😂
Damn autocorrect. That's Signal.
Hi Meghan. I'm posting here because I'm not sure where to put this observation. You may be aware that Canadian subscribers are in a bit of a dilemma about either attending your events in the U.S. (such as the one in NYC that sounds great) or purchasing things from you because there is a strong reaction to Trump's tariff aggression and his comments on annexing Canada and making it a 51st state. It's not only offensive, it's having a destructive impact and many Canadians are boycotting travel to the U.S. and/or products. The alliance between like minded public intellectuals and their Canadian followers is caught in this dilemma. Essentially, purchases Canadians would have made under the Biden administration can't be made in good conscience even though they are the same goods or services. But it's far from settled in many minds including mine, so when you announce gatherings to meet our intellectual heroes I find that very appealing and worthy and want it to succeed. I'm sure it will without support from Canadians, and I'm sure some Canadians will go. But I for one done't feel I can invest in all the collateral of U.S. travel for my own gratification. This is independent of personal budget considerations, which is always a factor.