Google, I cannot say this clearly enough: I do not want to use Gemini for my emails. Not to read them, not to compose them, not to summarize them. Stop asking!

Very unimportant in the scheme of things, but I was rounding up all the spare change in the house yesterday and...what are we supposed to do with our pennies?

Immediately pre-ordered!

Random recommendation: If you're a person who has a million hobbies and loves art and making stuff with your hands, you might also love the Corrie Beth Makes newsletter: substack.com/@corriebethm... I started following it on someone else's recommendation and it has been a delight in rough times.

C19 friends! Here's a long shot: any chance somebody has digital access to Frederick Douglass's Paper? I'm in search of articles in the May 15, 1857 and August 27, 1858 issues. Here's Murph looking befuddled for thanks.

Blueskis, studies have shown that when folks see or hear about a book more than five times, they are likely to check it out, and buy it. So in the spirit of creating buzz, here is the gorgeous cover of THE WESTERNERS, which will be published on March 31!

Major thanks to @katecarp.bsky.social of @draftingthepast.bsky.social for putting together this episode. And MAJOR thanks to listener Kate Davis for naming Together in Manzanar as the best history book she read in 2025!! 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜 What a way to make my year. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...

Coping today by turning public domain manicules into vector art, as one does.

Help me out, old book people, my brain is broken this morning: what's the word for a little hand pointing at words in a book?

THIS LINE from Brandon Taylor's newsletter today: "Your whole conception of sociality has been hijacked by mutual biographical exchange that traffics in anecdote and personal disclosure. It’s evil. You should stop. I should stop." open.substack.com/pub/blgtylr/...

This interview was so much fun and also… therapeutic? It was an honor to be on one of my favorite podcasts and nerd out about writing and open up about my weird and wonderful life. Thanks, @katecarp.bsky.social!! #history @uncpress.bsky.social @shafrhistorians.bsky.social

A delight to host @renatakeller.bsky.social for ep 83! We talked her book The Fate of the Americas (@uncpress.bsky.social), including how she wrangled 20 countries' stories. She also let me pry about the challenges of writing thru the loneliness of new parenthood draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...

Writers, it's time. Scrivener for Creative Writers is back! Join me 1/31 for a 90-minute class that will give you a powerful start to your writing year. Info and signups (and student discount) at jaimegreen.net/classes

I hate everything about this.

If agents/editors could please tell us they're using this sort of thing so we know to avoid them, that would be great...

Going to conferences when you're not planning on the tenure track is good therapy fodder.

You could fund my show Mouthy Broads, where each season tells the story of a historical woman who refused to shut up and stay in the kitchen.

Listening to all my colleagues this weekend has me scheming about a narrative podcast. #aha2026 Are you a billionaire who doesn't know what to do with your money? Let's talk!

Good morning #aha26! Come see our panel on engaging storytelling at 8:30 in Continental A (Hilton) as part of the Sinclair Workshop on Historical Podcasting. After that, find me in the book exhibit with my mic and tell me your favorite writing advice!

Taking an introvert break, but I'll hit the book exhibit with my mic again before it closes today, and lots more tomorrow. #aha26 Plus, I'll be at the podcast meetup tonight (if you're a history podcaster and want to come, DM for me deets!).

Alright, #aha26, next up is a panel on using podcasts in the classroom!

Seriously, I am shy, please come talk to me and save me from having to approach people cold.

Excited for the Sinclair Workshop on Historical Podcasting keynote with the hosts of @npr.org's Throughline, moderated by @danieljstory.bsky.social. #aha26

Ready for #aha26 and lots of podcast talk, but first I need a bagel sandwich.

Headed to #AHA26 today, recorder and mic in hand! If you see me in the book exhibit, come say hi and tell me the most influential writing advice you know!

The first ep of 2026 (and season 5) is here! I chatted with Jeff Roche about his book THE CONSERVATIVE FRONTIER (@utexaspress.bsky.social). We talked about his excellent writing voice, how music shapes his process, and his intriguing note organizing method. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis... 🗃️

SEEKING PARTICIPANTS For their MA thesis, my advisee is conducting an oral history on family members of people living with HIV/AIDS in the 1980s-90s. They are seeking folks to interview. See the flyer for details. Wondering if folks can share this with their networks. Thank you!

Random Sunday night question for my writer Blueskis who publish book reviews in newspapers / magazines: What is the going rate these days, for each review?

NEW TGS EPISODE: Brooke Newman @brookenewman.bsky.social and I dig up some dirt on James II and remind everybody that our modern monarchs have inherited a lot more than goodwill.

Celebrating the new year with our family's traditional litany of complaints about how the Rose Parade used to be about the floats.

After an especially crappy travel and sickness week, we have come home to a broken furnace. 2025 can get bent.

I would like you to know that I overheard the three teens/preteens I was with this week tell their parents last night that they had decided together to take a screen break for three hours, unprompted

I know everyone needs funding and we are all spread way, way too thin trying to support work we love, but I also need you to know that when you become a Patreon/give a tip/financially support an independent creator you value, it means so, so much to an actual person on the other end of the screen.

As a reminder (why?) I set myself a truly stupid goal, so if you want to see how quickly it goes off the rails you can subscribe to my thus-far dormant personal newsletter.

Ah, the two genders.

It's here! Listeners shared some of their favorite history reads from 2025--inclusing one book published 90 years ago! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...

I shipped a package via USPS on Dec. 13, from Kansas City to St. Louis. Since then, it has gone to San Jose, CA, then onto San Francisco, CA, and is now back in Olathe, KS, and will not arrive for Christmas. I have questions.

Editing this year-end episode right now, and it makes me so happy. What a delight to have such smart, thoughtful listeners who love talking about great history books!

Need something to listen to while you wrap gifts, cook, drive, or dissociate? I've got you:

Last call to tell me your favorite history book that you read this year!

People who are American Studies PhDs, I'm curious about something: do you identify yourself by regional and temporal focus, like many historians do (ie, I'm an Americanist, I'm a 19th century historian, etc)?

Some wise words from documentary filmmaker Penny Lane: open.substack.com/pub/lennypan... May the proliferation of AI challenge us to write with verve.

For the midday crowd:

Historians! I'm going to be at AHA, and I'm bringing my recorder. Find me and tell me the most influential writing advice you've ever gotten.

Serious q: how are we feeling about newsletters vs websites going into 2026?

Forget about the best Scrooge on film---who was the best "Christmas Carol" ghost? I think it's either Edward Woodward (Christmas Present in the George C. Scott version) or Statler and Waldorf (Marley/Muppets).

What's NCAR? and 8 ways it has helped you www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...

In a real gonna burn it all down/gonna build something cool frame of mind today, apologies to anyone I encounter.

Thinking about a newsletter post that dives deep into @draftingthepast.bsky.social's stats this year -- downloads, income, costs, etc. Is this a terrible idea? I would love to read something like this from other podcasters, but I'm trying to figure out if there's a reason no one shares this.