I am highly selective in my paid subscriptions, and yours is one of them. Your podcasts and writing are interesting and thought-provoking because you bring your curiosity to the endeavor as you grapple with events and ideas. You model how to unravel nuanced elements of an issue — something that is much needed and in short supply. Thank you for what you do.
I speak for a lot of your audience, Tara, and that's that we truly appreciate your work. You speak honestly and candidly and are making a difference - a positive difference in representing original thought and free speech, something pathetically lacking in MSM. All the best for 2025 and keep 'em comin'.
I have zero trust in journalism, and doubt that you'll make a dent in such an unsalvageable institution, but I appreciate your work and your serious attempts at objectivity. Most don't even try.
The 'micronewsroom' is a good idea if you can maintain strict nonpartisan objectivity.
Congratulations on the third anniversary of your Substack, Tara. Your work is varied and wide-ranging--thoughtful, enlightening and entertaining. Best wishes to you and your family for the Holiday Season and for a happy and successful 2025. 🙏
Thank you for the great work, I'm proud to be a paid subscriber. I value your Canadian perspective in this wild, ever-changing world and appreciate the interesting people you've introdiced me to on the poscast. Enjoy a restful holiday and I look forward to seeing where you go next year. Cheers!
I'm commenting, in admiration, on your shoestringy-ness. Have you considered seeking partners--existing subscribers--in your work? For example, if I could help you travel to an interview or pay for content...I'd be willing to hear from you.
Tara, I'm not wealthy and you and I probably don't vote for the same folks but I am in need of your perspectives. There's damned little value in subscribing solely to concordant thinking.
If you'd like me to consider a "topical partnership", I invite your request.
Thank you for your generosity, Tom! I appreciate your support, and your vote of confidence. I’ll have a think over the holidays about how that model might work. In the meantime, all the best to you and yours for a great Christmas season.
Your letter about why you left the CBC blew me away and I subscribed early to Lean Out. I have not decided if I will continue my subscription, although your plan to have a micro newsroom is much needed in Canada and I would support this enterprise. I find my time spent these days more often reading the “ Free Press” started by Bari Weiss. Comparing “Lean Out” to the “Free Press” isn’t totally fair as their business has expanded rapidly and they seem to have some serious money behind them. The Free Press seems to be always looking for new ways to engage its subscribers and make them feel like they belong to a community. Some of the attempts fail or are short term, but some others are hugely successful. I would encourage you to try to bring your community of readers/ listeners together in some way, physically or by providing other opportunities for them to engage. In Canada it is so easy to feel isolated or disconnected from the majority if your ideas are not mainstream. I’m not aware of any Canadian independent podcast or substack that makes an attempt to have their subscribers be as actively involved as the Free Press does. I am missing this aspect in Lean Out and other sites or substacks I subscribe to in Canada.
Thanks for the feedback, Yohanna. I share your admiration for The Free Press; I think what they are doing is incredible. On the community engagement piece, it does unfortunately often come down to time/ resources. But I agree that so many of us are feeling isolated - I certainly feel it to sometimes. So, I’m sure there is a way, in 2025, to incorporate your suggestion on a small scale. Would a subscriber zoom event be of interest to you, for example?
Thank you for your comment, Tara and for considering my feedback. I understand that “Lean Out” is small and that resources and time are limited. I personally would not be interested in a Zoom meeting, just because they are a sad reminder of all the Zoom meetings I had to attend during Covid. That’s just me though, others might really enjoy this opportunity. There may be other ideas that do not take much time and effort such as providing an opportunity for supporters to meet at an event, in person, once or twice a year. We have a possible election coming up, so an event that features a debate about some of the more important issues in Canada might be worthwhile. Or just a low key mixer and opportunity to meet you and the people that support you. You would know best about where the majority of your supporters come from and what the best locations might be. An event like this might turn a supporter into a subscriber. Engagement opportunities that are not in person might include Book Clubs, opportunities for readers to share photos, subscriber or listener surveys, or merchandise. I’m sorry but these suggestions are some of the things that the Free Press has done to engage readers. What I notice about their attempts at engagement is that they drop ideas that don’t engage people pretty quickly and then try something else. They also have different levels of support available and subscribers can contribute more to help grow their business. I want to make it clear that I really appreciate the work that you do and let you know that yours is a voice, along with the people you have interviewed, that helped keep me sane during the lockdowns. This is why I’ve been a subscriber. I want your business to thrive and grow and provide an objective and fair, and sometimes contrary, alternative to the legacy media in Canada. Happy New Year and holidays to you and your family!
Yohanna, spot on! As I commented above, I believe some Canadians would value the opportunity to participate in Tara's work. Perhaps she could provide a continuing list of possibilities.
Bari Weiss is a good source. But Tara is Canadian. Stay with her.
You have done a great job during 2024. Hopefully, that ratio of paid to unpaid will tumble down. What a terrific achievement - you should be very proud. It is much better to be tired because of so many positive things to do rather than because of frustration working in the MSM.
Congratulations Tara for what you’ve accomplished in three years, and especially this past year.
I’ve been following you since you wrote That Letter and was an early subscriber. Alas, I found myself too busy to keep up with your work and chose to unsubscribe a while back. But I’ve since realized that even with limited time on my hands, I’ve made your work a priority anyways, carving out time to read your essays and listen to your podcasts.
I also admire what you’re doing and, as a former old-school journalist myself, want to support it. It’s work that is sorely needed in Canada and you’ve proven yourself as up to the task. Consider me, therefore, a paid subscriber once again.
If it wasn’t top drawer content, I wouldn’t stay. Top drawer means intelligence, integrity, relevance, and a pleasant and approachable tone. You should be proud. Thank you.
Happy 3rd "Lean Out" Anniversary, Tara! I've enjoyed your Substack since, from almost, your start-up. Thank you for your interviews and your other coverage! This lifelong Texan (with French-Canadian ancestry) appreciates your viewpoint and that of your guests! Best wishes and Good Luck on your Year Four!
These reflections on the first three years seem the right moment for me to comment. A number of the issues you cover, Tara, overlap with the blog that I write as a hobby. I really appreciate your work. At the same time, I wonder about some of the subjects you choose not to cover. Is it a matter of choice? I'm thinking of China, Ukraine, Quebec and money. Areas I find myself obsessing over. Anyway, looking forward to Lean Out in 2025. http://www.thesourgrapevine.com/2024/12/to-complicate-has-replaced-to.html
Thanks Jay! And thanks for your piece at your blog, I appreciated it. Most of what I cover and don’t cover comes down to resources. I can generally do two stories a week: the podcast (with transcript) and the weekend column. That leaves many other stories on the table every week. There is so much more that I’d like to get to! Some of the story selection also comes down to background knowledge and experience as well. I’ve never covered geopolitics or armed conflicts, for instance, so I often leave those stories to colleagues who have more expertise, contacts on the ground etc. In an ideal world, you would be able to build up a small newsroom with other journalists who fill the gaps — and that is def the goal. In the meantime, though, send me your number one topic of interest and I’ll add it to the list for 2025.
thanks for your response, Tara. Makes perfect sense. I will look forward to reading the product of Team Tara in the years ahead. I am reminded of the number of times I have piggybacked your podcast Here's the obvious example with multiple links to Lean Out: http://www.thesourgrapevine.com/2022/12/do-right-and-left-mean-anything-anymore.html My number one topic of interest for 2025 would be "weaponizing the US dollar." I have read about it, referred to it myself, but I still don't fully understand the mechanisms by which ti works. Must be somebody out there who really knows. All the best for the holidays and the year ahead.
I am highly selective in my paid subscriptions, and yours is one of them. Your podcasts and writing are interesting and thought-provoking because you bring your curiosity to the endeavor as you grapple with events and ideas. You model how to unravel nuanced elements of an issue — something that is much needed and in short supply. Thank you for what you do.
Thanks so much, Sharon!
I speak for a lot of your audience, Tara, and that's that we truly appreciate your work. You speak honestly and candidly and are making a difference - a positive difference in representing original thought and free speech, something pathetically lacking in MSM. All the best for 2025 and keep 'em comin'.
Many thanks, Garry! Always nice hearing from you. Wishing you a fantastic holiday season and 2025.
I have zero trust in journalism, and doubt that you'll make a dent in such an unsalvageable institution, but I appreciate your work and your serious attempts at objectivity. Most don't even try.
The 'micronewsroom' is a good idea if you can maintain strict nonpartisan objectivity.
It's not journalism itself that's on trial. It's just its poor excuse that we see in the legacy media.
Congratulations on the third anniversary of your Substack, Tara. Your work is varied and wide-ranging--thoughtful, enlightening and entertaining. Best wishes to you and your family for the Holiday Season and for a happy and successful 2025. 🙏
Thanks so much, Bernie! All the best to you and your fam as well.
Thank you for the great work, I'm proud to be a paid subscriber. I value your Canadian perspective in this wild, ever-changing world and appreciate the interesting people you've introdiced me to on the poscast. Enjoy a restful holiday and I look forward to seeing where you go next year. Cheers!
Thank you for the kind words, and for your support! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
I'm commenting, in admiration, on your shoestringy-ness. Have you considered seeking partners--existing subscribers--in your work? For example, if I could help you travel to an interview or pay for content...I'd be willing to hear from you.
Tara, I'm not wealthy and you and I probably don't vote for the same folks but I am in need of your perspectives. There's damned little value in subscribing solely to concordant thinking.
If you'd like me to consider a "topical partnership", I invite your request.
Thank you for your generosity, Tom! I appreciate your support, and your vote of confidence. I’ll have a think over the holidays about how that model might work. In the meantime, all the best to you and yours for a great Christmas season.
Hi Tara,
Your letter about why you left the CBC blew me away and I subscribed early to Lean Out. I have not decided if I will continue my subscription, although your plan to have a micro newsroom is much needed in Canada and I would support this enterprise. I find my time spent these days more often reading the “ Free Press” started by Bari Weiss. Comparing “Lean Out” to the “Free Press” isn’t totally fair as their business has expanded rapidly and they seem to have some serious money behind them. The Free Press seems to be always looking for new ways to engage its subscribers and make them feel like they belong to a community. Some of the attempts fail or are short term, but some others are hugely successful. I would encourage you to try to bring your community of readers/ listeners together in some way, physically or by providing other opportunities for them to engage. In Canada it is so easy to feel isolated or disconnected from the majority if your ideas are not mainstream. I’m not aware of any Canadian independent podcast or substack that makes an attempt to have their subscribers be as actively involved as the Free Press does. I am missing this aspect in Lean Out and other sites or substacks I subscribe to in Canada.
Thanks for the feedback, Yohanna. I share your admiration for The Free Press; I think what they are doing is incredible. On the community engagement piece, it does unfortunately often come down to time/ resources. But I agree that so many of us are feeling isolated - I certainly feel it to sometimes. So, I’m sure there is a way, in 2025, to incorporate your suggestion on a small scale. Would a subscriber zoom event be of interest to you, for example?
Thank you for your comment, Tara and for considering my feedback. I understand that “Lean Out” is small and that resources and time are limited. I personally would not be interested in a Zoom meeting, just because they are a sad reminder of all the Zoom meetings I had to attend during Covid. That’s just me though, others might really enjoy this opportunity. There may be other ideas that do not take much time and effort such as providing an opportunity for supporters to meet at an event, in person, once or twice a year. We have a possible election coming up, so an event that features a debate about some of the more important issues in Canada might be worthwhile. Or just a low key mixer and opportunity to meet you and the people that support you. You would know best about where the majority of your supporters come from and what the best locations might be. An event like this might turn a supporter into a subscriber. Engagement opportunities that are not in person might include Book Clubs, opportunities for readers to share photos, subscriber or listener surveys, or merchandise. I’m sorry but these suggestions are some of the things that the Free Press has done to engage readers. What I notice about their attempts at engagement is that they drop ideas that don’t engage people pretty quickly and then try something else. They also have different levels of support available and subscribers can contribute more to help grow their business. I want to make it clear that I really appreciate the work that you do and let you know that yours is a voice, along with the people you have interviewed, that helped keep me sane during the lockdowns. This is why I’ve been a subscriber. I want your business to thrive and grow and provide an objective and fair, and sometimes contrary, alternative to the legacy media in Canada. Happy New Year and holidays to you and your family!
All great ideas, thanks Yohanna! All the best to you and yours for a lovely holiday season.
Yohanna, spot on! As I commented above, I believe some Canadians would value the opportunity to participate in Tara's work. Perhaps she could provide a continuing list of possibilities.
Bari Weiss is a good source. But Tara is Canadian. Stay with her.
You have done a great job during 2024. Hopefully, that ratio of paid to unpaid will tumble down. What a terrific achievement - you should be very proud. It is much better to be tired because of so many positive things to do rather than because of frustration working in the MSM.
Agreed, Dick. I am tired, but it’s a good tired. I vastly prefer it to feeling stifled and bored. Thank you for the kind words!
Congratulations Tara for what you’ve accomplished in three years, and especially this past year.
I’ve been following you since you wrote That Letter and was an early subscriber. Alas, I found myself too busy to keep up with your work and chose to unsubscribe a while back. But I’ve since realized that even with limited time on my hands, I’ve made your work a priority anyways, carving out time to read your essays and listen to your podcasts.
I also admire what you’re doing and, as a former old-school journalist myself, want to support it. It’s work that is sorely needed in Canada and you’ve proven yourself as up to the task. Consider me, therefore, a paid subscriber once again.
All the best in Year 4.
Thanks for resubscribing, Bart, and for your support and encouragement. It means a lot!
If it wasn’t top drawer content, I wouldn’t stay. Top drawer means intelligence, integrity, relevance, and a pleasant and approachable tone. You should be proud. Thank you.
Thank you so much, John.
Congrats Tara! Love your work and thrilled to hear it’s successful and growing. You’re so right - independent media is the best game in town.
Happy 3rd "Lean Out" Anniversary, Tara! I've enjoyed your Substack since, from almost, your start-up. Thank you for your interviews and your other coverage! This lifelong Texan (with French-Canadian ancestry) appreciates your viewpoint and that of your guests! Best wishes and Good Luck on your Year Four!
Thanks so much, Catherine! Appreciate your support :)
These reflections on the first three years seem the right moment for me to comment. A number of the issues you cover, Tara, overlap with the blog that I write as a hobby. I really appreciate your work. At the same time, I wonder about some of the subjects you choose not to cover. Is it a matter of choice? I'm thinking of China, Ukraine, Quebec and money. Areas I find myself obsessing over. Anyway, looking forward to Lean Out in 2025. http://www.thesourgrapevine.com/2024/12/to-complicate-has-replaced-to.html
Thanks Jay! And thanks for your piece at your blog, I appreciated it. Most of what I cover and don’t cover comes down to resources. I can generally do two stories a week: the podcast (with transcript) and the weekend column. That leaves many other stories on the table every week. There is so much more that I’d like to get to! Some of the story selection also comes down to background knowledge and experience as well. I’ve never covered geopolitics or armed conflicts, for instance, so I often leave those stories to colleagues who have more expertise, contacts on the ground etc. In an ideal world, you would be able to build up a small newsroom with other journalists who fill the gaps — and that is def the goal. In the meantime, though, send me your number one topic of interest and I’ll add it to the list for 2025.
thanks for your response, Tara. Makes perfect sense. I will look forward to reading the product of Team Tara in the years ahead. I am reminded of the number of times I have piggybacked your podcast Here's the obvious example with multiple links to Lean Out: http://www.thesourgrapevine.com/2022/12/do-right-and-left-mean-anything-anymore.html My number one topic of interest for 2025 would be "weaponizing the US dollar." I have read about it, referred to it myself, but I still don't fully understand the mechanisms by which ti works. Must be somebody out there who really knows. All the best for the holidays and the year ahead.
PS Apologies in advance for labelling you "a conservative." My misreading.
Congratulations, job well done, keep up the good work.
How about a story the January 6th scam.
Your "one man show" still beats the CBC hands down.
Congratulations, Tara! I continue to be grateful for your work and your courage. All the best in 2025!
Thank you, Frederick! All the best to you as well. Appreciate your support.