Substacks recommended by Rebecca Gale | It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard

Recommended by Rebecca Gale

The Family Frontier

By Elliot Haspel

Analysis, future-casting, and philosophizing on child care & family policy from Elliot Haspel

Happy Families

By Haley Swenson

Research, stories, and thoughts on the contemporary family, and the political and economic threats to family happiness.

The Auntie Bulletin

By Lisa Sibbett

Practical everyday kinship.

The Double Shift

By Katherine Goldstein

Join us for The How to Find Your People Club, an IRL community-building project for the 21st century. Research, reporting, and storytelling on building a world that cares.

Katherine shares her smart insights on the way we work and care, and why so much of that mental load falls to women. Highly recommend reading her substack and her articles through Better Life Lab at New America too!

- Rebecca Gale

The Institute for Independent Journalists' Newsletter

By The IIJ

A newsletter for independent journalists, especially those of color.

The Purse

By Lindsey Stanberry

Talking about money, motherhood, careers, and all that good stuff. From the founding editor of Refinery29 Money Diaries.

Beyond the Classroom

By Abby Maslin

Deconstructing the craft of writing & tips for lifelong learning

Abby writes with an in-your-face honesty about learning, teaching and writing. For anyone who read her excellent memoir, Love You Hard, her Substack is a natural extension of her work and very much worth a read.

- Rebecca Gale

The Care Gap

By Blessing Adesiyan

Merging heart with hard data to address the pressing challenges of caregiving. Blessing Adesiyan delivers weekly insights and strategies that enlighten and equip all parties — from home to headquarters— creating a unified front to tackle the care divide .

Practically Deliberate with Abby Davisson

Actionable insights that lead to greater wellbeing, brought to you by my efforts to be intentional about everything (within reason)

Hopefully Yours

By Connie Schultz

An ongoing conversation about the daily mess of life: Family, politics, books, teaching, writing, journalism - and dogs, always dogs. In my world, hope is a fact.

Lotus & Phoenix

By Dr. Elizabeth Gish

On loving and living in a world on fire.

Elizabeth Gish is one of the most knowledgeable therapists with a deep insight into our emotions, actions and feelings. Highly recommend reading to better understand ourselves and the people around us.

- Rebecca Gale

The Maternal Stress Project

By Molly Dickens

Exploring the stress of modern American motherhood… and what we can do about it.

zero2eight

zero2eight covers early care, development and education for children 0 through 8 years old. We publish stories from — and for — those passionate about early learning.

Early Learning Nation has some of the best independent journalism out there on early childhood education from some of the top writers and thinkers. Highly recommend reading them as someone in the child care/early ed space or someone wanting to learn more.

- Rebecca Gale

Child Care Market Insights

Insights on the state of child care across the United States—presented by Kinside

Small Talks

By Isabelle Hau

A newsletter about the future of (early) learning

MADE WITH CARE

By Elissa Strauss

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