I don’t recommend like crazy. Some people have 5,000+ recommendations in their stack—basically every Substack they’ve ever come across.
That’s nice, I guess.
I curate.
Here’s why:
You actually go read the stacks I recommend. On average, my readers send hundreds of free (and paid) subscribers to other writers every month. That’s amazing. I love helping you find great work—and helping those authors grow.
I only recommend five per month. Substack rotates recommendations round-robin, so if you recommend 500 people, most will barely be seen. By limiting mine to five, they always show up—and they get real exposure.
I don’t pick the usual suspects. You already know the big names—Robert Reich, Joy Reid, Aaron Parnas. They don’t need me. I’d rather introduce you to unique, high-value voices that aren’t just repackaging the same takes.
So with that, here are my March picks.
The French Dispatch – Julien Hoez
Substack leans America-centric, but if you want sharp, insightful European political analysis, this is it. Julien Hoez has a master’s in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam, has worked in IGOs, and actually knows his stuff. He writes about European politics with clarity and depth—without the academic jargon. If you want to break out of the U.S. political bubble, he’s your guy.
👉 Check out The French Dispatch
It’s In The Water – Stuart’s H2O
This one grabbed me with a single post. It was some of the clearest thinking I’d seen from someone outside political science. So I dug deeper. Turns out, Stuart Rojstaczer is a geophysicist. Rock guy.
Maybe that’s why he’s good at analyzing Trump—his head must be filled with rocks and dirt.
His political commentary is smart, direct, and refreshingly non-hysterical. He’s not a political scientist, but he’s one of those people who sees things clearly and cuts through the noise. If you want political analysis that isn’t performative outrage, he’s worth your time.
Economics Matters – Laurence Kotlikoff
If you studied macroeconomics in college, there’s a good chance you learned from Laurence J. Kotlikoff.
Yes, that Kotlikoff.
He’s one of the most influential economists in the U.S., and now he’s on Substack—writing accessible, high-value insights on finance and policy. If you’re into economics, this is a must-read. If you’re not, he still manages to explain things in a way that makes sense.
SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19)
Our new Secretary of HHS is an ex-heroin addict, an anti-vaxxer, and had a worm eat half his brain. So, if you’re looking for reliable pandemic and health policy reporting, the CDC isn’t it.
This Substack curates academic and state-level data on pathogens, outbreaks, and emerging threats. The kind of thing we used to rely on the CDC for—before everything got political. If you want real public health reporting, this is a solid source.
Living Elsewhere – Gregory Garretson
I found this one while researching for Breakaway Brief, and it really made me think.
If you’re planning to move abroad, it’s not a vacation—it’s a lifestyle change. This Substack captures the realities of expat life in a way that most don’t. No sugarcoating, no ‘digital nomad’ nonsense—just real talk on what it means to start over in a new country.
Also, if you want to learn how to swear in multiple languages, this is your place.
Why This Matters & How You Can Help
These five writers are worth your time. They’re not the most prominent names, but they’re some of the most interesting voices on Substack.
If you enjoy The Long Memo, recommending it helps more people find it—and, as a perk, writers who recommend me can earn complimentary paid memberships.
Recommend TLM to
Recommend TLM to 25 people? You get a free year ($80 value).
Over 10 writers have already hit that mark. Want in? Let’s go.
Enjoy stacking. See you next month with five more.
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This is brilliant.
The links to other Substacks aren't clickable?