There are two big questions floating around in my head right now:
How and where should I show up?
What does real human connection look like in this shifting digital landscape?
I’ve been thinking a lot about these questions lately. This newsletter, the podcast, and our LinkedIn can sometimes feel like shouting into the void. Reach is shrinking. Algorithms reward confrontation, virality, tribalism/echo chambers... Posting can feel performative even when my intentions are authentic and virtuous.
But the thing is, I don’t think it’s just the platforms. It’s us. Our attention is stretched thin. Our patience for bland content is non-existent. We’re yearning for spaces that feel more human, not more sensational. It feels like the internet used to be closer to that experience than it is today. Is it hyper-saturation? Is it AI? Is it cultural/digital burnout?
So here’s what I’ve been landing on lately:
Publishing, even when no one’s watching, is practice.
Sitting down to write a newsletter, outline a podcast, craft a LinkedIn post, or even just commenting on someone else's post forces me to challenge my ideas and beliefs and sharpen my thinking. Publishing reveals what I actually know, and what still needs deeper clarity. Even if most of it doesn’t immediately land, it’s valuable practice.
People are migrating toward curated, cozy corners of the internet.
In media studies today, this is called the “cozy web” — small, invite-only places built for trust, and immune from algorithmic influence. Think private newsletters, community Slack or Discord servers, WhatsApp groups, etc. Spaces with fewer people but deeper engagement.
These cozy corners are digital living rooms, structured for meaningful exchange, shared values, and a kind of slow content that’s deeper and more human.
Here are some moves we're making
We recently launched a new Spotlight series as a way to lift up and celebrate social impact leaders who are skillfully navigating a new playing field with all the changes reshaping our sector. The first few conversations we’ve had have been thoughtful, candid, and energizing. They’ve far exceeded my expectations and participants have been gratuitous and generous, and thankful to have a space to surface some of their ideas and thinking they often don’t have the opportunity to.
So far, we’ve published three, and I’m really happy with them so far:
I highly recommend checking them out, and if you know a social impact leader who’s leading with confidence, grace, or innovation right now, send them our way. We’re always open to recommendations. Drop a comment below or DM me.
The most rewarding part? Co-creating content with other leaders in the space has felt way more meaningful than going at it alone. It’s one of the reasons I brought Jonathan on as a co-host for the pod — I was getting lonely and stuck doing the podcast solo. These conversations remind me that content can also be an opportunity for true connection.
Could Substack be our new cozy corner?
With all of this in mind, we’re experimenting with this Substack as a home base (yeah, I know, revolutionary!). I hope it can be a place for essays, the podcast, and the new Spotlight series, on our terms. No algorithm chasing, just intentional publishing and dialogue.
Here’s what this journey has been teaching me, and what it might mean for you, too:
Content, by itself, doesn’t equal connection. That might sound obvious, but it hits differently when you’re the one doing the publishing. I've been creating consistently in one form or another for 10+ years now.
The act of publishing itself is scary. It’s humbling. It forces me to wrestle with my own thinking. What felt clear in my head often starts to unravel when I sit down to outline an episode or write a post. That unraveling is the point. It’s where the real learning happens.
I’ve also come to believe that more content isn’t what we need. What we need are cozier digital spaces and connections. Slower, more intentional corners of the web where trust is the currency and true connection is the value. That’s what we’re trying to build with our Substack, the podcast, and especially the Spotlight series. They’re not about reach, they’re about resonance.
Has the attention economy finally peaked? Is true human connection the new (original?) currency that drives the next chapter of digital culture?
And finally, I’ve been reminded that real connection still requires a hybrid mindset. We can create deep, meaningful touchpoints online, but we shouldn’t forget the value of showing up face-to-face, when and where we can. Some of the most energizing moments I’ve had this year came from virtual and in-person meetings with clients and peers in the space. Conversations that went beyond surface-level and turned into actual relationships.
All of this is reshaping how I think about content. Less performance, more presence. Less broadcasting, more listening.
So what does this mean for your social impact org?
If you're trying to figure out how to reach and engage your audience today, consider rethinking the metrics of success. Instead of optimizing purely for reach, optimize for resonance. Instead of chasing virality, invest in building trust. Find your cozy corner and nurture it. Maybe it’s a private group, a Slack community, or a local meetup. Maybe it's a high-signal newsletter that consistently delivers real value to a smaller (but more aligned) audience.
You don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to be somewhere that feels real and human. Start there.
More importantly: I’d love to hear where you’re showing up these days. Have you found your corner of the web where people know and trust you? Want to riff on ideas, try new formats, or co-create connection?
Hit reply, let’s talk. (I personally read every response to this newsletter).
More to come,
Eric