Dear Reader, What really happened to Silicon Valley’s ideals how might our reality be transformed if just a few moments had unfolded differently? That's a question explored in the lead article from this week's newsletter and the implications are surprising. Also, this week I offer a non-obvious take on why a maligned AI company churning out 5,000 useless podcasts a week could actually be great news for creators. In other stories this week, a unique Swedish perfume asks you to pay with your...
9 days ago • 6 min read
Dear Reader, Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! Since I know you're likely already planning big celebrations for this momentous holiday, I'm resharing a video where I visited an American island that has been under 8 different flags (including a pirate one). Don't worry ... I have lots more to share than just evidence of me doing a bad pirate accent! In stories this week, we consider whether there may be a secret message behind South Park's infamous missed episode last night that we're all missing...
17 days ago • 6 min read
Dear Reader, This week’s Non-Obvious Insights explores the rise of “vibe movie making,” compressing production time and costs while sparking debate about who will remain essential in the future of storytelling. In other stories, you'll read about how we may be reaching “peak farmland," allowing us to produce more with less land. Also this week, Anthropic’s $1.5B settlement with authors marks a potential turning point in the long battle over AI copyright and creator compensation. In bonus...
24 days ago • 8 min read
Dear Reader, Do you consider yourself a podcast aficionado or listen to two or more shows regularly? If so, I have a project that I'd love to have your help with. Just hit reply to this email and let me know if you're interested in learning more and I will share some details. It's officially September and so in this week's newsletter you'll find a deep dive into the curious return of a perplexingly popular flavor: pumpkin spice. As you'll read, its seasonal dominance may no longer be...
about 1 month ago • 7 min read
Dear Reader, After several weeks in Australia and New Zealand on a combination of holiday and work where I put the newsletter on hiatus (that's the word that the celebrities use for a break, right?), I'm happy to be back at work this week and sharing another collection of non-obvious stories with you. I missed writing this and curating stories for you! This week we will explore the insights behind the Cracker Barrel logo debacle, a trend around the intentional "dumbification" of technology, a...
about 1 month ago • 8 min read
Dear Reader, It's the last day of July and the last edition of this newsletter for a few weeks as I head off to visit Australia and New Zealand for a combination of work and recreation. I will be back with all-new non-obvious stories the week of August 21st but until then this week you'll see stories about the rise and fall of drive-in theaters, a perfect example of why people ignore press releases and the book of AI fails that needs to be written. Plus some non-obvious media and book...
2 months ago • 6 min read
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...
2 months 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,...
3 months 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...
3 months ago • 8 min read