Dear Reader, This week in non-obvious stories, an AI influencer fooled thousands at Wimbledon—and it revealed a deeper truth about the misguided state of influencer marketing. We’re also celebrating 250 years of the United States Postal Service (yes, they invented more tech than you think), imagining how AI could one day charge you more just for talking about a trip, and exploring why optimists may actually think more alike than you’d expect. Plus, a timeless book pick from the '70s and a new...
26 days ago • 7 min read
Dear Reader, Inspired by the launch of my new website (please let me know what you think!), this week's newsletter starts with seven tips for making your next website refresh more interesting and non-obvious. In other stories this week, the fascinating saga of bringing the Commodore 64 back, fears of how GLP-1 drugs may fundamentally reshape consumer behavior by making impulse purchases a thing of the past and how witches selling their services to cast spells are booming on Etsy. All that,...
about 1 month ago • 9 min read
Dear Reader, What does it mean to be truly non-obvious in a world overrun by noise, automation, and sameness? This week’s newsletter dives into that question starting with my announcement of the launch of Season 5 of my Non-Obvious Show podcast, where we explore ideas like trash talk, empathy, lifestyle rebellion, and what it really takes to be a Supercommunicator. Plus, there's a featured story about why taste may be the last truly human skill, how nostalgia can help to bridge the...
about 1 month ago • 8 min read
Dear Reader, Are companies using “sludge” — deliberate customer service obstacles — to avoid angry customers? Could the shift toward smaller, independent agencies be a bright spot in a struggling industry? Did Carnival Cruise just launch a case study in destroying brand loyalty? These questions will all be answered in this week's newsletter. In other stories, we'll look at why Copenhagen’s adult-only park is sparking fresh urban planning ideas and showcase a book that explains exactly how...
about 2 months ago • 7 min read
Dear Reader, In this week's edition, I decided to take an unexpected deep dive into the world of art and museums. You'll find several stories and recommended reading on this topic below including a book that was featured in last year's Non-Obvious Book Awards. In other stories, two brothers buy an abandoned Boeing 727 for $10k, Digg may soon be reborn, a new paint makes buildings "sweat" to help them keep cool, how technology is changing the way perfumes get made and marketing secrets from...
about 2 months ago • 6 min read
Dear Reader, In just about every industry there are assumptions that we typically make ... like what sort of speakers people want to hear at an event. Or who should be responsible for archeological discoveries. The stories in this week's newsletter challenge some of these beliefs—from a revealing new study on why event planners are moving away from booking celebrities to who the "perfect astronauts" of the future will be. You’ll also read about Denmark’s bold experiment with deputizing...
2 months ago • 7 min read
Dear Reader Fellow Trend Curator, Heading back home today from Lima after nearly two weeks on the road, my airport experience here in Peru inspires the first story in this week's newsletter all about the power of optimism. From my surprisingly smooth experience at Lima’s brand-new airport (despite the headlines) to groundbreaking innovations like sugar alternatives from tropical fruits and revived EV batteries, there are plenty of stories and causes to feel good about the future in this...
2 months ago • 6 min read
Dear Reader Fellow Trend Curator, Greetings from London! I'm here all week for the inaugural SXSW London event along with a side trip to Lisbon for the APCC Summit to talk about the future of retail and shopping centers. The common theme among both is the power of creating experiences and why they continue to matter so much in a digitally enhanced world. Over the past week I've shared an AI-driven idea sharing tool from the stage along with Henry as we launched the new paperback edition of...
3 months ago • 7 min read
Dear Reader Fellow Trend Curator, What if the world's brightest people aimed higher than prestige and paychecks? A powerful new book dares the next generation to do better—and start making a difference. Meanwhile, the future of radio is being actively created and debated: from NPR’s funding battle to AI DJs. In other stories this week, LEGO joins the "book nook" trend with a grown-up Sherlock Holmes diorama and a new Olympic style competition throws all doping rules out the window and...
3 months ago • 6 min read