Where do you draw inspiration and insight from? There’s no shortage of advice out there for non-profit communicators. But there is a shortage of time and patience when it comes to sifting through all the available content and finding the real gems.
Over time, each of us centers in on a reliable core of experts, commentators and pundits that we can rely on. The ones you read, watch, or listen to that leave you thinking “Ah, that’s interesting. I can use that.” Every Monday, I strive to write a memo that earns a place on your list of people creating that kind of content.
But today, I thought I would share my own list – the dozen people I learn from every week. My whole list is a lot longer than that. But these are the cream of the crop, the ones I always make time for. Check it out.
Eddie Shleyner
If you’re looking for smart insights into the art of copywriting, you can’t do better than Eddie Shleyner. His book Very Good Copy is a masterpiece. In it and his newsletter of the same name, he uses his own engaging writing style to share wisdom on creative thinking and writing.
David Perell
The host of the How I Write podcast, David Perell presents one fascinating conversation after another with novelists, journalists, screenwriters, and more discussing their craft. These talks are enriched by Perell’s own depth of knowledge and his uncanny ability to guide the conversation in the right direction.
Shonda Rhimes
We are all operating in an attention economy and few creators are as skilled as Shonda Rhimes when it comes to gaining and holding people’s attention. Her MasterClass session, “Writing for Television” is six and a half hours of insights into how to use pacing, rhythm, and emotional ups and downs to keep people engaged. I revisit it on a regular basis.
Nancy Harhut
Nancy Harhut’s book, Using Behavioral Science in Marketing, is must-reading for non-profit communicators. Aimed mostly at commercial marketers, Harhut’s actionable insights are easily translated to the nonprofit realm. She regularly posts additional advice on LinkedIn. It’s all essential guidance on how to align the way we make our case with the way people actually make decisions.
Melina Palmer
On her highly popular Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer regularly features some of the brightest minds in behavioral science. She skillfully guides rich, down to earth conversations. And her first book, What Your Customer Wants But Can’t Tell You, makes a wonderful companion to Harhut’s book. Neither one of them ever leaves the top of my desk.
Roger Craver
Whenever I see Roger’s byline on a post from The Agitator-Donor Voice, I know two things. First, we’re in for some truly perceptive insights from a legendary figure in non-profit fundraising and communications. Second, they will be expressed in his inimitable style, combining wisdom, outrage, and humor.
Will Robinson
No one charts the ins and outs of the shifting media landscape better than communications strategist Will Robinson. His frequent Substack posts not only trace the outlines of the new attention economy, they also offer clear recommendations on how to respond. Often expressed in terms of Democratic strategy, the path forward Will lays out applies with equal force for the entire nonprofit community.
Nathan Chappell
This should be a two-fer because Chappell’s work on AI in the nonprofit setting is a collaboration with Scott Rosenkrans. They co-authored Nonprofit AI: Artificial Intelligence for Social Good. The pair also co-host FundraisingAI podcast. In both forums skillfully combine high enthusiasm for AI’s potential to transform nonprofit work with an unwavering commitment to its ethical and responsible use.
Ruben Hassid
With over three quarters of a million followers on LinkedIn and a sizable following on his beautifully designed Substack, How to AI, Ruben Hassid is one of the leading AI influencers in the country. You and I may not always agree with Hassid on where to draw the line on beneficial use of AI. But he stands apart from many “AI experts” with a constant stream of hands-on advice about how to use AI, maximizing its potential and avoiding pitfalls.
Nathaniel Pearlman
Nathaniel Pearlman is host of The Great Battlefield podcast. Each episode features an interview with someone from the cast of “progressive political leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs and technologists, and others who are working on protecting and improving our democracy.” Pearlman has become the country’s leading chronicler of a rising generation of progressive organizers, operatives, strategists and leaders.
G. Elliott Morris
There’s a wide range of easily located pundits offering hot takes on the state of American politics and the 2026 elections. But I prefer to listen and learn from those steeped in actual data. On the qualitative data side, my go-to resource is G. Elliot Morris’ Strength in Numbers Substack. Describing himself as a “data-driven journalist,” he backs that up with cogent political analysis supported by poll results. Essential reading for anyone worried about the 2026 elections — and who isn’t?
Sarah Longwell
On the qualitative data side of things, Sarah Longwell’s The Focus Group podcast is my go-to resource. Publisher of the conservative website The Bulwark and a leader of anti-Trump former Republicans, Longwell has conducted hundreds of focus groups all across the country. Her podcast interspersing audio clips from the groups with cogent analysis provide a vivid picture of the political climate.
There you have it — the top 12 voices I count on every week from various perspectives. They keep me up-to-date and allow me to keep learning about messaging and the art of persuasion. How about you? Who do you turn to for inspiration and insight? Share a name or two in the comments below.
