Substacks recommended by Christopher Pepper

Recommended by Christopher Pepper

Modern life and the forces that shape it. Gender, feminism, masculinity, mental health, psychology, culture, motherhood, anxiety, fear, self-loathing... that kind of thing.

Smart observations on life, gender, and parenting from the author of BOYMOM

- Christopher Pepper

Cyber Safety Guy

By Cyber safety guy

UK child online safety advice for parents and teachers, from a 22-year RAF Police and DFIR veteran. Plain English. Free to read.

Practical, platform-specific advice for parents about keeping kids safe online.

- Christopher Pepper

American Inequality

By Jeremy Ney

Mapping the country's greatest economic challenges

Now What

By Melinda Wenner Moyer

A newsletter that brings science and nuance to parenting advice and challenges fear-mongering, shame-inducing content.

I LOVE the book "How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes," and Melinda Wenner Moyer's newsletter keeps the advice and support coming.

- Christopher Pepper

The Bittman Project

By Mark Bittman

Lots of food publications embrace the pleasurable and entertaining parts of food and ignore everything else; others focus on the serious issues and ignore the joy. The Bittman Project does both. (Plus, plenty of recipes.)

If you love to cook, eat, or think deeply about food, Mark Bittman's work is essential.

- Christopher Pepper

How To Be A Teacher

By Jack Watson

Every teacher deserves to learn from the best, so I’m sharing with you the 70+ years’ experience of my expert colleagues in bitesized posts.

The Longest Shortest Time

By Hillary Frank

The Longest Shortest Time tells surprising stories about parenthood and reproductive health — but you don't have to be a parent to listen!

Sex and the State

By Cathy Reisenwitz

I’m letting you read my soul’s dialogue with itself

Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Your future on Substack is here—with the leading Substack Strategist, Sarah Fay.

Jessica Lahey

Writings on parenting, substance use prevention, education, recovery, and raising emerging adults.

Building Boys Bulletin

By Jennifer L.W. Fink

Because raising boys shouldn’t feel this hard. Practical support for moms parenting sons in a world that misunderstands boys.

Get practical tips for raising boys well, and keep up the with the latest news and research about all the issues affecting boys today.

- Christopher Pepper

What Do I Say?

By Dr. Debby Herbenick

Talking with Kids about Sex, Relationships, Bodies, & Puberty.

Wild Feelings

By Megan Saxelby

Tools, stories, and science to help you navigate adolescence with more clarity, less panic, and way more joy.

Design Mom

By Gabrielle Blair

A newsletter where we can be curious about everything.

Gabrielle Blair is the author of the brilliant book "Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion," and her wide-ranging Substack is full of rewarding gems about ideas big and small.

- Christopher Pepper

Let's Talk Sleep

By Lisa L. Lewis

A newsletter about sleep and wellness! Evidence-based empathetic information and strategies for improving sleep for adolescents and adults.

Focused, expert advice about how to get more and better sleep. Highly recommended!

- Christopher Pepper

Resources by Ana Willis

Providing resources for the anxieties of parenting

Raising Good Humans with Dr. Aliza Pressman

The heart and science of parenting

Zooming Out

By Joanna Schroeder

Joanna Schroeder, co-author of Talk To Your Boys & feminist media critic, tries to see the bigger picture on parenting, relationships & family equity while raising teen boys & a toddler girl.

Joanna Schroeder's reflections on parenting, culture, and adulthood are smart, thoughtful and always worth reading.

- Christopher Pepper

Mariah | Sex Ed Files

I am a passionate sex educator and digital learning designer who is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and equity in sex education. I love making complex topics more accessible and engaging through social media. Let’s learn together! 💌

Thoughtful reflections from a dedicated, award-winning sex educator

- Christopher Pepper

The Creative Shift by Dan Blank

Helping writers and creators share their work and connect with readers in meaningful ways. Digging deep into marketing, book launches, and platform development. Get my weekly newsletter every Friday.

Parenting Without Diet Culture

By Oona Hanson

A newsletter from Oona Hanson — for parents and guardians who want their kids to have a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and their body

Oona Hanson is an expert on how to emphasize joy and connection while feeding kids and talking about about food and eating.

- Christopher Pepper

Teenhood by Vanessa Kroll Bennett

By Vanessa Bennett

From the co-author of This Is So Awkward, Teenhood is a newsletter with confessions and lessons from the trickiest stage of parenting.

Your Local Epidemiologist

By Katelyn Jetelina

Providing a direct line of "translated" public health science to you, so you can take action for your community's health

Extremely useful data and accessible public health information to help you understand what to worry about and where you can relax.

- Christopher Pepper

Learn with Dr. Emily®

By Emily W. King

Join 14,000+ parents and educators learning to support neurodivergent learners in a world that wasn’t built for them.

The Vajenda

By Dr. Jen Gunter

Imagine a Venn diagram with overlapping circles labeled: Medical Facts, Feminism, and Fire. You've arrived at their intersection.

Great information about sexual health, menstruation, birth control, and more.

- Christopher Pepper

The Nutrition Tea Substack

By Shana Minei Spence

Welcome to The Nutrition Tea! This is where I plan to write more in depth and drawn out essays regarding food and nutrition. As per usual, this will always be a food neutral, weight inclusive, with an intersection of social justice, page.

Registered dietitian Shana Minei Spence is on a mission to help people reject diet culture, achieve a healthy relationship with food, and nourish their bodies and souls.

- Christopher Pepper

MADE WITH CARE

By Elissa Strauss

A newsletter and community for people who dream of a world in which parenting and caregiving aren’t only valued and supported, but treated with the curiosity and fascination they deserve.

The Future of Education

By Michael B. Horn

Stay up to date on the innovations, changemakers, & trends to transform learning & education worldwide so that all individuals can build their passions, fulfill their potential, and live a life of purpose

This Teenage Life

Helping teens and preteens—and the adults who support them— feel less alone in the world.

Here's the Thing with Reshma Saujani

By Reshma Saujani

Join me for my thoughts on all things midlife, bravery, motherhood, tech, and more.

Erin In The Morning

By Erin Reed

News and discussion on trans legislation and life.

Make Men Emotional Again

By Jeremy

Advice for men in a society that makes us lonely and divides us against each other—from therapist Jeremy Mohler

W. Kamau Bell asks, "Who's With Me?"

Come hang out with a pop-culture-obsessed, antiracist, lefty, OG Blerd who lives in Oakland, CA.

W. Kamau Bell is both curious and hilarious, and is a beloved figure in the East Bay where I live. I'm thrilled we get to read him here every week!

- Christopher Pepper

gender (in)equality

By Kate Mangino

A conversation about gender norms at work and at home. Hitting your inbox every Wednesday afternoon.

Teen Talk Tuesday

By Dr. Megan Maas

Most Tuesdays, I write about what I'm learning while I research adolescent development and socialization. I do this to empower adults to talk to teens about relationships, sex, and mental health in a way that engages them.

Body Talk

By Dr. Charlotte Markey

The latest body image science and relevant cultural commentary.

Charlotte Markey is a real expert on body image issues, especially as they relate to young people. Her newsletter is always full of wisdom and care.

- Christopher Pepper

Oldster Magazine

By Sari Botton

Exploring what it means to travel through time in a human body, at every phase of life.

Becoming Technosexual with Kaamna

By Becoming Technosexual By Kaamna Bhojwani

In the age of artificial intelligence, authentic intimacy matters more than ever. Relationship expert helping you navigate all things sex, tech and spirituality.

Deep thinking about how technology and AI are affecting people's relationships and sexual lives.

- Christopher Pepper

Rhana’s Substack

By Rhana Hashemi

My personal Substack

Rhana provides the kind of drug education I wish every teen had access to in school.

- Christopher Pepper

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank

your dose of news, minus the depression

Liz Plank is the author of "For the Love of Men: A New Vision for Mindful Masculinity," a beautiful book with a lot of big ideas about men and masculinity. Her newsletter often continues those conversations, along with exploring other moments and ideas in culture.

- Christopher Pepper

I Love What You're Doing

By Kate Schatz

“It is not often that someone comes along who's a true friend and a good writer. [Kate Schatz aspires to be] both.” NYT-bestselling author of RAD WOMEN books, DO THE WORK, WHERE THE GIRLS WERE, etc. Educator, editor, coach, mom, gay feminist forever

The Maternal Stress Project

By Molly Dickens

Exploring the stress load of modern American motherhood… and how we fix it together.

Before and After the Book Deal

By Courtney Maum

Real talk about the writing + publishing industry from an author who doesn’t want you to feel confused, bewildered, or alone. Plus: craft tips, reading recommendations, writing support + solidarity (unless you are a jerk to people in the comments).

The Noösphere

By Katie Jagielnicka

Weekly musings on humans and the big rock we live on through a social sciences lens.

Fascinating takes on gender, with an eye for equality

- Christopher Pepper

Open Secrets Magazine

Open Secrets is a lit mag and community for memorable, revealing personal essays about all the subjects we're taught to keep "secret." Contact Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel at opensecretsmag at gmail.com

Kids and Tech in the AI Era

By Jim Steyer and Bruce Reed

Of Boys and Men

By Richard V Reeves

rising to the challenges faced by the modern male

Parenting Teenage Boys

By Lee Bare

A child psychologist (and mom of 3 boys) writing about parenting teenage boys and mental health

Black Diamond Parenting

By Tara Dawn Hartley

Montessori-inspired sex ed guidance for parents. Free resources. Guidance. Community. We start easy and grow confident. With practice we build relationships with our children rooted in openness, trust, and a connection

We need more sex ed. We need better sex ed. Tara Hartley's newsletter is a great resources for understanding how to get therm.

- Christopher Pepper

Less Awkward

By Vanessa + Cara

Science-based guidance for anyone caring for tweens + teens from pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson and educator Vanessa Kroll Bennett — subscribe for data-driven insights and practical tools that make puberty and growing up a little less awkward.

This newsletter from Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett is always full of practical, grounded advice based on real science. Their work is a gift to parents.

- Christopher Pepper