📝 Editor’s Note | Rob Belk
I am going into the Editor’s Note vault. I caught up with my good friend Marshall Sanford this weekend and he mentioned this Editors note made an impression. Written on September 3rd 2023, a great reminder about time, living in the moment, and relationships…
Editor’s Note (from the Conner Youngblood profile):
I often struggle to live in the moment. If we go on a family beach vacation, I can’t sit still on the beach for a few days. I have to be doing something active.
I recently found an interesting (and sobering) graph, from the “American Time Use” survey. It highlights how much time we spend with certain people at specific ages. For my generation, the study is a reminder to be cherish time with our parents and to be present with our kids.
Sahil Bloom, did a nice job distilling the learnings from the survey:
Family time is limited—cherish it.
Friend time is limited—prioritize real ones.
Partner time is significant—never settle.
Children time is precious—be present.
Coworker time is significant—find energy.
Alone time is abundant—love yourself.
Without further ado, this week’s profile…
Why Miller?
Hayden Sohr connected me to Miller. Hayden nominated Miller, saying that, “she is a global health researcher turned social entrepreneur…and is extremely intelligent, interesting, and a joy to be around.”
Follow Miller on Tik Tok and on Substack
Self-Description
I like to find patterns and connect dots that seem untethered. An epidemiologist by training, I got my sea legs in global health through work at the WHO and grassroots HIV organizations. After realizing menstruation kept girls out of school—education being a great equalizer in public health—I set out to change menstrual care for the better, period.
Miller’s 6 Recommendations
Written in her own words…
1. Cape Town, South Africa
I’ve spent a significant amount of time in Cape Town, and it will forever be the city I most recommend people visit. You may be drawn to it for its beaches or its winelands, its mountains or its museums, but what sets Cape Town apart is its people. Cape Townians, and their commitment to South Africa’s young democracy, are special—you will leave forever changed.
So many of my absolute favorite CPT places didn't survive Covid unfortunately, but I would love to share Starlings Cafe in Claremont, where you'll enjoy the most delicious and comforting food in their cozy cafe or, even better, their garden with the most spectacular mountain views. When I need to picture a happy place, that's where I go.
2. Big Buckle Arizona Birkenstocks
Everyone has a vice. Mine are Birks. I wore them to school every day for 4 years, so imagine my excitement when they came back into the fashion zeitgeist not long ago. My favorites for spring and summer are the Big Buckle Arizona; the gold hardware plays just as well poolside as it does for date night.
3. The Em Dash
I have always been long-winded with a penchant for context and nuance. The em dash—my preferred parenthetical—was among the greatest things an English teacher taught me. It’s my tried and true, and I resent that, in 2025, it’s become associated with AI. If you—or someone you love—were a pre-ChatGPT em dash aficionado, you may be entitled to compensation.
4. Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer ($45)
No hyperbole necessary, this moisturizer changed my life. First, it transformed my sensitive & reactive skin into an unrecognizably even and plump face. More importantly, Dieux gives us a masterclass in educating consumers on complex and nuanced scientific topics, and I’ve learned so much from following their co-founders grow the brand.
5. Sharpie Pens ($18)
I am a tech founder who gravitates to pen and paper. Sharpie pens are my go-to. I tend to write in a hurry, and these don’t smear. They lend a feeling of authority to whatever you may be writing.
6. Dyson Purifier Hot+Cold Fan
My mood is deeply temperature-dependent. I also operate best with ambient noise. This product fits every need, no matter how fickle. Get you a fan that can do it all.
Plug | Comma
51% of the world menstruates (for decades of their life), yet we know next to nothing about periods. My startup, Comma, is disrupting period care with its integrated model: by marrying software for secure, private cycle tracking with biodegradable period products and diagnostics, we can harness the power of periods for healthcare. Sara, our secure application for reproductive autonomy, is the first period tracking app that protects your data as protected healthcare information. Whether you’re interested in asking when you can wear white jeans or understanding your risk for PCOS, Sara can give you personalized and predictive insights.
Want to get in touch with Miller? If so, send an email to miller@yourcomma.com
P.S. from Rambull — A recent piece of advice I’ve found useful comes from my friend Kelsey Wheelers’s substack. She highlights several learnings, including:
Give your tasks “verbs” in to-do lists, like “Send email” is more actionable than “Email.”
As someone who still uses a pen and paper to-do list, I’ve found this tip to be a great productivity hack.
Check out the rest of Kelsey’s life hacks:
Thanks for the shoutout, Rob!