Perhaps unsurprisingly, our conversation with our first Canadian guest began with a lot of head scratching over American “healthcare.” But Stewart Reynolds — a.k.a. Brittlestar— doesn’t fluster easily, having embraced the “freedom and absolute terror” of supporting his family as an online creative since he began from literally nothing ten years ago.
That’s how he manages to pack his videos, his Substack Brittlestar's Really Great, and his new book, “Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon” with a reassuring voice of reason in flummoxing times.
“The internet’s favourite dad” has succeeded by committing to his work ethic and messaging with little regard for how it’s received. Try a bunch of things, put them out there as best you can, and if it sucks, try to suck less the next time. In the end, it’s your brand that will survive the platforms that come and go, the vagaries of your audience, and the threat of A.I.
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We also talk about his father’s Parkinson’s disease and dementia, working with his adult sons, searching for meaning among 100 billion poodles, and that time Magda was hit on by a ventriloquist’s dummy at the border.
Other links:
* Pre-order his book here until it arrives Sept. 19 (Nov. 25 in the U.K.)
* Catch him on his book tour, moderated by his wife Shannon
* Check out his viral video: Explaining Canada Day to Americans
