3 substack publications that make my coffee grow cold
march recommendations
As a writer and copywriter, I read a lot. Fiction, non-fiction, and, of course, the newsletters that land in my inbox. Part of my ongoing learning process is paying attention to what makes me react: what grabs my attention so completely that I forget about the fresh cup of coffee in my hands until it’s gone cold.
These are the Substack publications I keep coming back to. The ones that make me pause, think, and sometimes even rethink my own work. If you’re looking for writing that’s insightful, thought-provoking, and impossible to skim, I wholeheartedly recommend these.
: A Low Desire to Please
Like most people, I first “met” Jameela Jamil in the TV Show The Good Place. She was by far my favorite character on the show. And it turns out she’s even better in real life. Uncensored, authentic, and raw… yet strikingly articulate and punchy. Jameela’s writing hooks me every time, making me crave for more. I’m convinced there’s no topic she can’t tackle with a fresh, thought-provoking spin. To illustrate, here’s her latest essay on how to spend the end of the world.
“Grab what you can and build a museum in your mind, of a life actually lived, not just dreamt about from behind a desk. Somewhere safe you can go when things get really dark, and you need a light memory to keep you warm. They don’t have to be luxurious moments, just ones where you truly feel awake, connected and experience even small doses of awe.”
: Nedra nuggets
I discovered Nedras’ work around 2022 when I started doing the exercises in Set Boundaries, Find Peace workbook. Her work made me finally understand what it truly means, to set boundaries and to hold them, and how this is the basis of creating safety within oneself. Nadra’s practical approach radically improved my way of handling life, so when I found her on Substack, my heart jumedp with joy. Her articles are always short, yet full of wisdom. Hence the title, Nedra Nuggets. In her latest post, she makes us reflect about how seasonal friendships aren’t necessarily less qualitative than long-life ones.
“Some people come into our lives for a specific purpose, and there’s no need to rekindle the relationship. Instead, we can simply appreciate what we had—the role they played, the part of ourselves they helped bring out, or the lessons they taught us. That relationship may be complete because that particular season of our life is complete.”
: Elevate
If you’re into self-growth, you probably already know Yung Pueblo. Back when I was still active on social media, I would like and save almost all his posts for later. Now that Substack is my home base, his words have become a steady source of inspiration and comfort. He has a rare gift for distilling complex, heavy emotions into something simple and deeply relatable, tapping into our shared humanity. Every time I read his work, I feel seen. Which is probably why I purchased his latest book How To Love Better: The Path to Deeper Connection Through Growth, Kindness and Compassion.
One of his most recent articles about grief especially hit home:
“Grief can feel like gravity has increased the weight on your bones making everything more difficult, or like a dense fog has descended that makes things feel unfamiliar”
to conclude…
I tend to stay in my own bubble, where it’s safe, where things feel calm.
But reading these publications (and so many others) reminds me that I’m not alone. Their words give me hope in a time when the world feels heavy. They encourage me to keep writing, in all the ways I’ve been humbly doing so.
Not that I compare myself to them, of course. But there’s something refreshing about writers who share so generously, simply to help us feel a little less lost. And that’s worth sharing in return.
If you have a favorite Substack that keeps you hooked, share in the comments! I’d love to hear about it. Let’s trade recommendations!
Power and light,
Jessica