Why Reid?
Reid and I got connected because he is a very close friend of my brother-in-law. He has a very impressive background in media & tech, punctuated by the relevancy of his current position at Substack.
Reid’s Socials: Twitter & Linkedin
Reid’s Self-Description
Perpetually torn between the Carolinas and California. Overthinker of everything. Dive bar connoisseur. Ex-junior-golfer trying to get back into it.
Recommendations
Written in Reid’s Own Words…
⛳ Content: No Laying Up
No Laying Up ("NLU") — I don't often get envious, but when I watch NLU, I feel I missed my life calling. (NLU has been a huge reason that I've gotten back into golf.) It's impressive to see how much NLU's videos have improved over time. The friendships among the NLU team will keep bringing you back. They just released a new season of Tourist Sauce, though would also recommend checking out past seasons of Strapped as well.
The other reason I love NLU is that I think they're a great example of how media is evolving. When I was growing up, it was Golf Channel or nothing at all. The stuff on Golf Channel wasn't exactly innovative or geared toward a younger audience. The NLU team likely grew up with the same realization, picked up their phones (and drones!), and made something for themselves.
Looking ahead, I expect the world to have more NLUs and less Golf Channels. Disney, Netflix, and other large media companies will be around, but I think we'll see a lot more growth in individuals and small teams of creators catering to an endless array of niche communities.
🚰Product: SodaStream
I've developed a borderline unhealthy addiction to sparkling water. It started with my beloved Topo Chico, which became untenable relative to my addiction. So I picked up a SodaStream and it has quickly become one of the top 5 items I would take to a deserted island. I've always found drinking water quite boring - by spicing it up a bit, I find myself drinking a lot more water (and eating fewer snacks).
💸Digital Tools: Wealthfront
Not investment advice! But if you have any cash in a more traditional bank (e.g., Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase), it may be worth checking out Wealthfront. They have a cash account that offers 3.8% interest (or Annual Percentage Yield, "APY") with up to $2 million in FDIC insurance. You can use my referral link to sign up for a Wealthfront Cash Account and we’ll both get 4.30% APY for 3 months.
💪 Habit: Not bringing a phone into the bedroom
One of the simpler things I did a while back that's had an enduring positive impact: not bringing a phone into the bedroom. I usually fall asleep reading my Kindle Paperwhite. It's nice to leave the internet, the notifications, and the blue light outside the bedroom.
The other thing that has really helped me is making my phone home screen a blank black screen, turning off all notifications (except for certain non-group text messages), and setting time limits on apps that are easy time-sucks. This helps me use my phone more as a tool (vs. it kind of taking over my mind).
📺 Watch: Mini-Series on HBOMax
Mini-series don't get enough love — they're the perfect medium between movies (that now regularly surpass 3 hours) and TV shows (which can stretch into endless seasons).
It's not for everyone, but Station Eleven blew me away. It can hit a bit close to home (it's about a not-too-nice future after a deadly virus), but it's so well done and it's such an emotional roller-coaster. I watched it a year ago and still think about it.
A few other HBO mini-series that are worth checking out:
🌴 Food & Drink: Santa Barbara Recommendations
If you ever find yourself in the Santa Barbara area, here's a list of our favorite restaurants & things to do (highlights in red).
🔌 Personal Plug: Growth Croissant
I've been fortunate to be part of excellent teams that launched and grew Hulu, Crunchyroll, and HBO Max. More recently, I founded a company Yem to help individuals and small teams build their businesses. Yem was acquired by Substack, where I currently work on growth.
I've wanted to write about all the stuff we learned launching and growing these businesses. I'm excited to do that with Growth Croissant, an evolving home for everything I've learned over the past decade. I hope to create a comprehensive and actionable guidebook to help others grow their businesses.
If that sounds interesting, check it out and subscribe to follow along! :)
Throwback Recommendation of the Week
⏰ Product: Hatch Restore
An all-in-one sound machine, sunrise alarm, smart light, meditation app, and an alarm clock. It is also a wifi device controlled by an app, making it extra cool. I use this religiously every night, and it has greatly enhanced my sleep--which has become more of a priority in my early 30s ;) - Kacie Baker
Note from RB - I bought a Hatch thanks to Kacie’s recommendation and have combined this with keeping my phone outside the bedroom. Highly recommend!
Rambull Chat: consider downloading the Substack app. At the very least it will make reading substack newsletters easier but there is also a “chat” tool. I’d love to use it to have folks ask for and share their own recommendations. For example, do you agree with Reid, should I buy a SodaStream?
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I'm so glad you got Reid! I think he is a total bag of chips and MORE! He is insightful and thinks outside the box. One of my faves. Truly..