Shout out to my very favorite Substack Writers!
55) Also, is Substack trying to turn into the alternative, long-form, Twitter?
For the record, I do not think Substack is trying to turn into the alternative long-form twitter. People come on Substack to read great content, not just for people to fire off their takes. While I have yet to find the true utility in the use of “Substack Notes” and “Restacks”, I just love using this platform to write, and read other great writers too!
Through my engagement with certain high-profile writers, and their comments sections, I have discovered numerous talented writers, who typically aren’t as well-known. I have befriended a number of these unsung writing heroes, and I’m proud to share about many of them with you, right here! When headlining each writer, The title of their blog is the link to their homepage. Clicking on their name will bring you to their about page.
For example when you click on Josh off the Press, you will be brought to my home page.
When you click on, by Joshua Pressman Jacobs, you will be brought to my about page.
After a little over a year of writing on this platform, listed below are 14 of my favorite Substack Writers, some of whom are very well-known, but most of whom you probably never heard of…until now!
1) The Matterhorn: intersections of literature & art by Dr. Kathleen Walker
Dr. Kathleen Waller is the best Substack friend I ever made (who I have yet to meet in person). Kathleen seems to always be attracting new readers, and they frequently subscribe to my newsletter. As for my loyal readers, I know a number of you are more into fiction, and will love her work. Although Kathleen isn’t strictly a fiction writer, her work asks really big questions!
“Why do we write? It’s a question every writer asks themselves and a common article topic. Conversations about why writers write are vast, probably because we continue to try to understand something that has become a fundamental part of ourselves. It is a fascinating question for writers and readers alike…why take up life’s precious time (usually without the promise of payment, fame, or even readership) in order to put one’s ideas on a page?” Dr. Kathleen Waller
2) Really Bad Taste by Christy DeGallerie
My connection to Christy DeGallerie goes well-beyond writing. When it came to moving my writing platform to Substack, I am most appreciative to Christy, since she was the first person to truly encourage me to do so. While Christy writes on a wide-range of topics, one of the best ways I can describe Christy DeGallerie and her writing style is to say she bleeds New York through and through. While I have a lot of family that has lived in New York for multiple generations, I also have relatives that escaped the rate-race that is New York and they are sometimes fond of telling me that New York is a ‘hell-hole’. Christy, will tell you “Yes! New York is a hell-hole. But, it is my hell-hole!”
3) Freddie deBoer by Freddie deBoer
If Stephen King is the God-Father of horror fiction novels, Freddie deBoer might very well be the God-Father of blogging. And he still has time to write books! If I ever give up my day job to be a full time writer, Freddie deBoer will be my first model example for how to do it. I am simultaneously blown away by his popularity on this platform, yet not surprised at all, too. He is one of the most prolific writers I have ever come across. And his range of topics he writes about is incredible, too, - contradictions in education, -unique angles on professional sports,- interesting hobbies, -issues of free speech, - even racial politics!
Freddie deBoer also has done more for little-known writers (like me), than any other high-profile writer I have come across on Substack. His call for subscriber writing is always a hit, which I (almost) always submit to. You can find some of my work in Freddie deBoer’s “Call for Subscriber writing” by clicking on any one these links → Feb 2023, Jan 2023 /Dec 2022, Nov/Oct 2022, Sept 2022, August 2022, July 2022, June 2022.
<Just click on any one of those links and when you are there, if you want to find my story without scrolling, go on your computer and press on the CTRL button and the F button at the same time, in short-hand it is CTRL-F and type in josh off the press , to find my story>
4) Education Forensics - by Douglas Marolla
As a fellow educator I can not speak highly enough about Douglas Marolla’s newsletter! For any educator/teacher out there, read this! For anyone that wants to understand how public education in America works and doesn’t work, read this! I also must say that he has done a wonderful job in essentially dedicating his newsletter to his former students. For me, I have gone out of my way to make sure my students don’t find me here, LOL! Douglas has also become a wonderful thought-partner of mine, as well as someone who reminds me how small the world really is!
5) House of Strauss by Ethan Strauss
One of the very first pieces I ever wrote on Substack was a profile on Ethan Strauss. He is one of the most cerebral sports journalists anyone could ever come across. He has a keen intellect and sees things from a unique angle that attracts sports fans (and non-sports fans) from all across North-America. For those of you studying for the SAT (for the schools that still require it) read Ethan Strauss’s work and he will expand your vocabulary! You almost certainly will come across words you will need a dictionary for while reading his work.
“There’s been a bit of revisionism on Jackson, not just in the sports debate shows, but also in the recent jeremiads against him”-Ethan Strauss, How Phil Jackson Was Great While Being "Bad" (4.27.23)
Also, through the House of Strauss - Comments Section, I discovered and befriended both Kathleen Waller and Douglas Marolla (among others). I was also turned onto Freddie deBoer through Ethan’s work.
An emerging prominent sports & culture critic in Ethan Strauss
Since this piece is focused on Ethan Strauss and his wonderful subscription based newsletter, I hope he doesn’t mind me promoting it here and using his image and likeness. My new literary hero is Ethan Strauss - House of Strauss Newsletter and podcast, on Substack, with a focus on the intersection of culture and sports. And no that’s not just a gimmick,…
6) The Relationship Mastery Institute by Tony Vear
Tony Vear is one of the newest writers to Substack that I have enjoyed reading. I have had the privilege of knowing Tony for many years and have shared many pleasant and enlightening conversations with him. He’s a wise sage while holding on to this youthful wonderment, and excitement about life. Here is one of my favorite posts of Tony’s I really enjoyed (although I recommend you subscribe and read all of them).
7) Ramblings Across the Spectrum by T.V. Hernandez
When I first joined Substack, I explored different topics on the Substack search page, like a google search. T.V. Hernandez’s newsletter is one of the best ones I have come across.
"My family has tried making their own plans for me, but I tend to stick more with my own goals first and foremost, which contributed to these accomplishments". T.V. Hernandez
8) Aging Well News by Janice Walton
Janice Walton’s newsletter is such an invaluable resource to me. As a son with an elderly father whose care I manage, I find Janice’s posts to be so poignant and so informative, that I am forever grateful to her for the work she commits to making sure Senior Citizens (and their children/grand-children) are properly educated as we all navigate through this brave new world.
9) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Another wildly popular newsletter I really enjoy is by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I have enjoyed his takes on popular culture at large, and the presence he brings to his platform.
When I first read Jabbar’s “Winning Time” article, I found it justification for me not to invest the time in watching the show. Yet, I couldn’t stay away from it for that long. It was way too widely discussed, and I was way too curious not to dive into it.
HBO's “Winning Time” gets another look, and a big thumbs up by me: Hulu’s “Lakers Legacy” is also great
In my initial assessment of HBO’s “Winning Time” on the Showtime 1980s Lakers, I got carried away by a few things in writing my initial review (which was certainly not impartial). I leaned heavily into the fact that the show did take a lot of liberties in their depiction of historical Lakers events during that time period
10) Racket News by Matt Taibbi
I actually signed up for Taibbi’s newsletters when he first joined this platform, and I had no idea what Substack was at the time! I just knew I wanted to continue reading Taibbi even after he left Rolling Stone. I find him to be an invaluable journalist that is absolutely necessary in a new journalistic (AND SOCIAL MEDIA) world that has incentivized just about everyone NOT TO go against the grain. I found his book Hate.Inc to be incredibly informative, about our modern political media landscape, which I referenced in my 5 books I have given the most, post.
Part II of "5 books I have gifted the most"
The whole idea of books being gifted was a question I got from Tim Ferriss and his very popular podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show. At the end of each episode Tim Ferriss would ask his guest which book or books they gifted the most. The logic behind his question is if you ask about a book you frequently give away as a gift, you are less likely to bring up th…
11) The Reawakening by K_L_Esayed
I love the passion and authenticity of K_L’s newsletter. Seeing her posts reminds me of why I write what I write. Definitely check out her work.
12) The Micro Mashup. By Amie McGraham
Amie has one of the most original and creative Substack’s around. I’m grateful for her work and her contributions to the Substack community at large.
13) Perfect Equilibrium by Christopher J Feola
Here is another amazing and under-rated Substack writer, whose work hits you on a visceral level. Here’s a post of his I love
14) What did Spo get wrong this time? By Espo
While life gets busy for all of us, here is another great newsletter that I know he wishes he had more time to spend on, as there is such amazing content here.
The amazing thing about all these writers I mentioned is that I would have never gotten to know most of them, or had the opportunity to read their content if I hadn’t switched over my blog/newsletter to Substack. I also never would have gotten featured like I did right here, if not for Substack!
<To read the story I got recognized for, just click on the Milestone roundup, story and when you are there, if you want to find my story without scrolling, go on your computer and press on the CTRL button and the F button at the same time, in short-hand it is CTRL-F and type in josh off the press , to find my story>
Peace & Love
-JPJ
Love this. Thanks for your generosity in sharing all of this (and glad to know I'm not the only one struggling to find a purpose for notes and restacks!)
Wow, I am touched by the lovely message, friend. And I've picked up a few reads from this list -- thanks! I really enjoy your range as a writer and it shows in your reading selections as well.