everything I learned, I learned from an email
my case for having a full inbox and a meta look at what we're doing here
Email is not dead.
Someone asked me once to write a subject line for the Lifetime Movie Club weekly newsletter and after I came up with something that didn’t suck entirely, it became my new responsibility. This single task got me my first job at EPIX (now MGM+!) where I graduated from just subject lines to email teaser copy. Huge.
These jobs were the catalyst as to why I subscribe to random emails from all types of brands, sites and writers; I wanted to see what everyone else was putting out. But the true love affair with newsletters began in a Fubo social media meeting that had been derailed by my search to find a reference to the New York Magazine Nepo baby cover art from 2022. I had hit a paywall, though, probably due to my overconsumption of The Cut articles I couldn’t find for free elsewhere, and my addiction to comparing The Strategist’s recommendations to Wirecutter top picks, etc., etc.
Putting in my credit card number for the free trial that I knew I would forget to cancel was twofold. 1) I wanted everyone to see I wasn’t making this cover up and 2) I knew I’d end up using the subscription. I signed up for almost every newsletter that site offers. The newsletters are amazing and I would pay so much more than $8 a month for that content. Where to eat and shop, what to buy? They are giving you everything you are looking for on a silver platter. You cannot find that curated of a list on TikTok even if you tried.
Nowadays, I’m checking my email at the party. I’m refreshing my inbox. As someone who has hard-coded HTML for years at a time, it makes sense I have an appreciation for marketing sentiment and the work that goes into compiling musings.
Social media is taxing, riddled with ads and serving us so much influencer content it’s making me sick. You know what’s avoidable? Getting emails. Don’t like something? Unsusbcribe. DELETE IT. Poof. It’s gone. You can click “I don’t like this” on Instagram as much as you want, but after 30 days, after you forget you made that conscious choice to opt-out, you’ll be shown that weird reel montage you saw before. Rinse and repeat.
Gothamist for staying in the loop. Sunchild is the only place you can seem to buy Skargorn t-shirts from. The Slowdown for things I never would have thought about. That sunblock, Vacation, that everyone’s obsessing over? That brand grew out of a website called poolsuite.fm that I found on STUMBLEUPON. I’ve been subscribed to that Substack since 2018. The Internet is massive.
Pete Wells sends out his NYT restaurant reviews early to email subscribers. Pitchfork sends hot links every Monday with playlists and exclusive content. The perks are endless. Subscribe to newsletters (especially MINE!) and support the people that make them. Take a social media break and get read some newsletters. There is so much good content out there!! 📰
More things from my inbox that I love
Gumshoe, by Harling Ross: former Man-Repeller employee and my fashion icon, this newsletter is a curated guide to vintage clothing and goods.
Ramit Sethi’s newsletter on personal finance - as my brother says, get your money up not your funny up and his program has helped me immensely.
Seletti - Italian home design I’ll never be able to afford but is so fun to look at.
The Shopkeepers - the ultimate guide to cute and adorable little shops!!!!
Graza - Their emails are so pretty, AND they send recipes for shit like olive oil cake?? A must subscribe.
Brooklyn Library - get the lowdown on stuff happening in your community!! Find out about FREE events ??? like why wouldn’t you subscribe.
Penzey’s Spices - read these for yourself.
There’s even more on Substack and the ether - I have so many recommendations! Hit my line for suggestions.
Your inbox could look like this!
