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I bumped into an old friend last week and she told me she'd heard people saying it must be nearly recommendation week. Of all the things that didn't happen, this is one of them. But here we are. Here's the best of what I've come across in February.
Media
I've written about Substack before. As it gets bigger, it's being pushed into some uncomfortable conversations around content moderation. For the record, I'm firmly in the "you're allowed to ban Nazis, in fact you should ban Nazis" camp.
That aside, here's something worth your time:
If you've ever wondered how Substack went from a sabbatical essay idea to reshaping the entire media landscape, this one's for you. Ed Elson sits down with Chris Best, Substack's CEO and co-founder, for a fascinating conversation about why trust in mainstream media is collapsing and what that means for the rest of us.
Best has a knack for making big ideas feel simple. His description of Substack as "an index fund of culture" alone is worth the listen.
"An index fund of culture" - it's a throwaway line that explains everything about why Substack is winning.
Whether you're a writer, a reader, or just someone quietly exhausted by the current state of the internet, this episode will give you a lot to think about.
Podcasts
This month's podcast recommendation is an episode from On With Kara Swisher. Kara talks with Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, about the role of satire in an increasingly ridiculous world. He's also got some sharp thinking on the power of independent media and why it matters more now than ever.
Must Follow
If you're not already following her, fix that today. Richardson's nightly newsletter, Letters from an American, has a shit load of subscribers on Substack for good reason. She takes what's happening in politics and grounds it in historical context which, right now, feels less like a nice-to-have and more like a survival skill.
When the news feels chaotic, history is the map. Richardson is one of the best guides around.
Business Spotlight: Adam Gilbert, My Body Tutor
Adam Gilbert is an OG online entrepreneur. His business, My Body Tutor, has been running for over 15 years which in internet years makes him practically ancient.
But here's what makes it interesting: My Body Tutor isn't just another weight-loss programme. It's a coaching and accountability service built around human connection. I signed up about ten years ago (there's even a testimonial on the site I've spared you the photo).
The reason I'm highlighting Adam is this: what he's built is a quiet masterclass in future-proofing a business. Sure, you could use an AI chatbot to help you lose or gain weight. But accountability to a real human? That's a different thing entirely. It's harder to ghost a person than an algorithm.
Building around human connection isn't just good business. Right now, it might be the best defence against being replaced by a machine.
What Adam has created is genuinely instructive for anyone thinking about how to build something sustainable something that doesn't get wiped out the next time a new model drops. We might even get him on the podcast.
Try this: Look at what you do professionally. Where does the human element live in your work? That's your moat. Lean into it.
That's a wrap for February. If you've got something you'd like to recommend, send it my way.